June (85/06/01)
Today marks the beginning of a new month, the month of June. Are you acquainted with The Vision of Sir Launfal by the American poet, James Russell Lowell? In it, we find these well-known words: "What is so rare as a day in June?/ Then, if ever, come perfect days;/ Then Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune,/ And over it softly her warm ear lays." Obviously, this poet was not writing about Japan. There are various explanations of the English name of this month. One theory holds it is derived from the Latin word, juniores and that the month was dedicated to young people. Another holds that it comes from Junius, the name of a Roman clan, or from the name of an individual member of that clan, Lucius Junius Brutus, a distinguished Roman leader. Still another theory connects it with Juno, the wife of the chief Roman god, Jupiter. Juno was considered the protector of women and the guardian of marriages. Whether or not this latter theory is correct, the month of June has always been a popular month for marriages in the United States. Regarding marriage, Robert Schuman has written, "When I was a young man, I vowed never to marry until I found the ideal woman. Well, I found her. But, alas, she was waiting for the ideal man".(1564)
God works for good (85/06/02)
My sermon text for today is a very familiar verse from the New Testament Letter of Paul to the Romans, chapter 8, verse 28. In this verse it is written that "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him." This verse has proved an encouragement to Christians throughout the ages. The verse begins with a very positive affirmation. "We know" is a stronger expression than "We believe", even though this knowledge is gained through faith. We know that "in everything", meaning all of the trials, sufferings and problems of life as well as its joys, God is at work. He has a purpose which he is seeking to accomplish and that purpose is "good". But what is the meaning of "good"? Some people consider the "good life" to be one of luxury, but the "good" in this verse must be left for God to define. All experiences may not make us happier, healthier, or richer in a material sense, but they are ultimately for our "good", as God defines it. Those who respond to God's love with faith and love for him are the ones who know the truth given here. God works along with such persons to accomplish his good purpose. Remember: "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him". (Romans 8:28) (1565)
Commodore Perry arrived (85/06/03)
Today is the 3rd of the 6th month of the year 1985, according to the so-called Gregorian calendar used throughout the western world. According to the calendar used in Japan before adopting the Gregorian calendar in 1873, it was on the 3rd day of the 6th month of the 6th year of Kaei, or 1853, that 4 American warships commanded by Commodore Matthew Perry caused great consternation when they anchored off the coast of the Miura Peninsula near Uraga. Commodore Perry brought a letter from the American government to the Japanese authorities urging Japan to open its doors to the rest of the world. Until that time, Japan had a strict seclusion policy, but with Perry's visit in 1853 and his return the following year, that policy came to an end and a new era in Japanese history began. Nevertheless, the legacy of those centuries of isolation and distrust of foreigner continues to be evident in various Japanese attitudes and policies even now. If only we could break down the walls of suspicion between nations, races and social systems, our world would be a happier one. The belief in one God, the Creator of all, implies that we are all a part of the same human family. (1566)
Yasukuni Shrine (85/06/04)
The old Chinese conception of peace may be imagined from the character made to represent that concept. Picturing a woman in a house and pronounced yasui in Japanese, that same character may also mean "cheap." A different character with the same pronunciation originally pictured a lizard, which easily changes its color to blend with its surroundings, so this character is used to mean "change" or "easy". However, the first character in the term yasukuni is different from either of these. Consisting of 2 halves meaning "stand" and "blue", it refers to something firmly based under a peaceful sky, that is, a tranquil land. The Yasukuni Shrine is considered the peaceful resting place of the spirits of those who gave their lives in the service of their country. 106 years ago today, the name of the former Tokyo Shokonsha was changed to Yasukuni Shrine. During the war, having one's spirit enshrined at Yasukuni was said to have inspired Japanese soldiers to willingly die for the emperor. Today, some people advocate government support for that Shrine despite its religious character. The far-reaching implications of this proposal need to be considered very carefully for I doubt that it will promote a land of tranquility. (1567)
Atsuta Shrine (85/06/05)
In the south central area of Nagoya is a district known as the "hot paddy field", or Atsuta. The district is named for the famous shrine located there. One of the three most sacred treasures of Japan is said to be enshrined there. According to Japanese mythology, this kusanagi-no-shinken, or sacred grass-mowing sword, was found by Susano-o in the tail of a dragon. Later given to Yamato-takeru, it miraculously mowed the grass around him and saved him from being burned to death in a field on fire. After Yamato-takeru died in this area, that sword was enshrined as the object of worship. Today is the day of the annual grand festival of Atsuta Shrine, when a variety of festive events are held in the shrine grounds, including fireworks, dancing, singing and various displays. The Atsuta Shrine grounds cover over 200,000 square meters of land, on which are located over 40 shrines dedicated to a variety of kami. The Bible teaches against worshipping anything or anyone other than the one, true and living God, the Creator and Lord of all, and Christians believe that it was in Jesus Christ that God fully revealed himself. (1568)
Sweden (85/06/06)
The northern area of Europe is known as Scandinavia. The Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark were once united under a common ruler and are related by similar languages. Sweden is the largest of these countries, having the greatest population. Today, June 6th, is the National Day of Sweden, also called the Day of the Swedish Flag. The Swedish flag has the same basic pattern as the flags of Denmark and Norway although the colors are different. It has a yellow cross on a light blue field. The vertical stem of the cross lies closer to the pole and the horizontal bar extends to the opposite edge. Sweden has one of the most extensive social-welfare programs in the world, maintains a neutral foreign policy and was uninvolved in both world wars. The last war in Swedish history was fought in 1814. In matters of minor importance or having little, if any, moral implications, neutrality may be a good thing. However, in matters of clear moral significance, neutrality may be positively evil, for on some issues a truly moral person cannot remain neutral. In Amos 5:15, the prophet wrote: "Hate what is evil, love what is right, and see that justice prevails."(1569)
The Green Club (85/06/07)
Tomorrow noon I will speak at a meeting of a club with an interesting name. It is called the Green Club. What kind of a club do you think it is? an-environmental protection society? a garden club? a youth organization? No, it is a group of older people who have retired but are still young in heart and wish to continue growing. Instead of silver, they have chosen to identify with the color green. The name of this club has caused me to consider the meanings of green in Western thought. Of course, it refers to something fresh, unripe or immature, so we may call an inexperienced person a greenhorn. A greenhouse, when written as one word, does not refer to the color of a house. Rather, it is a building with roof and sides of glass in which plants are cultivated, and a person with skill in growing plants is said to have a green thumb. Green is also related to jealousy so one may become "green with envy" when seeing a person with a lot of greenbacks, meaning American paper money which is printed in green ink on the back. The 23rd Psalm speaks of the Lord as the shepherd, who leads his sheep into green pastures where they can enjoy themselves. True peace and eternal happiness is found when we follow the Lord as our shepherd.
Queen Elizabeth's birthday (85/06/08)
In America, it is customary to give gifts to children both on their birthdays and on Christmas. Some children, whose birthdays are close to Christmas, feel cheated at times because people combine birthday and Christmas gifts. Birthday and Christmas celebrations get mixed together so they would rather celebrate their birthdays at a different time of year, but I have never heard of them doing so. In the United Kingdom, however, the birthday of the queen is officially celebrated on a different date than her actual birthday. Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, so the week before the Japanese Emperor turned 84, she became 59, but her official birthday is celebrated on this 2nd Saturday of June. Needless to say, the weather in the United Kingdom is different than that in Japan. In Japan, considering the weather, people would tend to change a celebration from June to another month if they could, but in Britain, mid-June is considered a better season for an official celebration than late April. That is the reason for celebrating today. Queen Elizabeth is the 6th woman to sit on the British throne, in comparison to 35 men. Regarding the place of women in history, she has said, "It has been women who have breathed gentleness and care into the harsh progress of mankind" and I believe she is trying to do the same.
Communism in Early Church (85/06/09)
These days, communism has a bad reputation in the United States and much of the Western world. It is considered an atheistic system opposed to religion. However, the word itself simply refers to a system in which property is held by the community as a whole rather than by individuals and Soviet-style communism is quite far removed from the original ideal. In fact, the New Testament indicates that a kind of communism was practiced by the Early Church. My sermon today is taken from Acts, chapter 2, verses 43-47, which indicates that the spiritual unity of that first community of believers was seen in sharing their possessions with one another. They sold their property and distributed the money among all, according to what each one needed. Also, in chapter 4, verse 32, it is written that "The group of believers was one in mind and heart. No one said that any of his belongings was his own, but they all shared with one another everything they had." The communism of the Early Church was not forced from without. It was an expression of love and concern for others that came from within. True Christian love is seen in such practical ways as sharing what we have with those in need and it is that deep, heartfelt concern for others that is most needed in our day.(1572)
Jehovah's Witnesses (85/06/10)
Last week an unfortunate accident occurred in the city of Kawasaki. A 10 year old boy was hit by a truck and taken to a Christian hospital. An operation was required to save the boy's life, but the parents refused to permit the necessary blood transfusion and their child died. Their refusal was based on the tenets of the religious group they belonged to, known as Jehovah's Witnesses. Your home may have been visited by ladies belonging to this group, for they often go from door to door to teach their doctrine and to gain new converts. According to their interpretation of the Old Testament prohibition against eating blood, found in Leviticus, chapter 17, blood transfusions are forbidden. I disagree with their interpretation and think their decision was wrong. However, I believe that there are times when a principle must have higher priority than life. Although this may be difficult for people not having a strong religious faith to understand, it is sometimes the excuse given for wartime killings. Before we condemn others for their courage to make a difficult, unpopular decision on the basis of conscience, let us reflect on the reasons for actions we take which cause suffering, injury or death to others and upon our lack of courage to take an unpopular stand against what we believe to be wrong. (1573)
Kamehameha Day (85/06/11)
Hawaii, the 50th state of the United States of America, is made up of a group of islands. The capital city of Honolulu is located on the 3rd largest island of Oahu. A main highway in that city is called the Kamehameha Highway and there is also a statue of Kamehameha the Great there. As a matter of fact, there were 5 King Kamehamehas in Hawaiian history. Kamehameha I began his reign over a portion of the largest island of Hawaii in 1782. Through a series of battles, he extended his sovereignty over the other islands and became the first king of a unified Hawaiian kingdom. He was followed by 2 of his sons and 2 grandsons, who were known as Kamehameha II, III, IV and V. Today is a legal holiday in Hawaii, called Kamehameha Day. Parades, music, dances, pageants and luaus will commemorate the birth of Kamehameha I on June 11, 1758. A luau is a feast of traditional Hawaiian food. Although feasting was included in the traditional image of the Kingdom of God among people in Jesus' day, Romans 14:17, states that "the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but justice, peace, and joy, inspired by the Holy Spirit".(1574)
The Philippines (85/06/12)
Today, June 12th, is celebrated as Independence Day in the Philippines. The Philippine Islands were under Spanish control for over 300 years, but in the late 19th century a series of rebellions were fomented by Filipino nationalists. After Spain's defeat in the Spanish-American War in 1898, nationalist leader Emilio Aguinaldo declared the islands independent on June 12 of that year and established a provisional government. However, actual control of the country passed from Spain to the United States which had paid $20 million for that right. Increasing independence was granted over the next 40 years and, after the end of the Pacific War, full independence was gained on July 4, 1946, which coincided with America's own Independence Day. For the next 16 years, the 4th of July was celebrated as Independence Day both in the Philippines and in the United States, but, in 1962, the date was changed to June 12, to commemorate that earlier declaration of independence from Spain. Independence is a precious privilege as well as a right, both for countries and individuals. It must be highly valued and used with care, giving due respect to the rights of others. (1575)
The number 13 (85/06/13)
Today is the 13th day of June. Did you know that one-half of 13 equals 8? In the case of Roman numerals, it does. The Roman numeral for 13 is XIII. If you cover up the bottom half of that number, the remaining half becomes VIII, the Roman numeral for 8. Did you know that a "baker's dozen" means 13? In 15th century England, there were strict laws regulating the weight of bread, but it is difficult to bake bread of an exact weight, so bakers gave 13 loaves when a dozen were ordered to make sure there would be no penalty for shortages. Some people consider 13 an unlucky number because there were 13 people at the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples, the night before he died, but the U. S. A. began with 13 states, symbolized by the 13 stripes in the American flag. Some foreign speakers of English have trouble distinguishing between 13 and 30. Today is the 13th, but on the 30th of June, we will have a meeting of listeners to these telephone messages at 1:30 at the Y. W. C. A. The discussion topic is "Summertime" and I hope you can attend. You may receive a copy of these daily messages by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus ¥60 in stamps to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office 463. (1576)
National flag (85/06/14)
One of the symbols of the unity of a country is its national flag. When 13 British colonies in America began their revolutionary war, they fought under the varied flags of their particular colonies. The first "national" flag was chosen to represent the unified Continental Army by George Washington, its commander in chief. It had the same pattern as the present American flag, but with a small British flag, the Union Jack, in the upper corner instead of a field of stars. This may have symbolized the hope of eventual reconciliation with Britain, but on June 14, 1777, almost a year after the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress passed a resolution "That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." Today is known as Flag Day in the United States. The number of stripes in the flag is now limited to 13, representing the original 13 colonies, but the number of stars in this new constellation has increased to 50, corresponding to the number of states. Symbols such as the Stars and Stripes, the Hi-no-Maru, and the cross all provoke a deep emotional response in patriots and believers. (1577)
Road signs (85/06/15)
When former Chūnichi Dragons' coach Jim Marshall and his wife, Beverly, were in Nagoya, they used to listen to these "Daily Word" messages at times. Since their return to the U.S., Beverly has sometimes sent me interesting newspaper clippings she thought I might use in preparing the messages. This week I received another batch from southern California where Jim is doing some scouting of promising baseball players. I will be making use of these articles in future talks. One of them, from the Los Angeles Times, is about the interesting signs people see in foreign countries, some of which are difficult to understand. The writer had followed signs in Germany that she thought were pointing to a town a certain number of kilometers away. After travelling for a long time, she looked up the word in her phrase book and found out that it meant "detour". I had a similar experience in Yugoslavia, where I saw signs with an arrow over a word I thought to be a place name, but at times the arrows on those signs pointed in different directions. Finally, I realized that the word under the arrows meant "One Way Traffic". The Bible gives us certain signs to follow along the road of life which we must try to understand. To his disciples, Jesus declared, "I am the way; no one comes to the Father except by me." (John 14:6) (1578)
Father's Day (85/06/16)
Today is the 3rd Sunday of June. Certain merchants have been reminding us in various ways that today is Father's Day. In Japan, there is a national holiday called Children's Day, but both Mother's Day and Father's Day originated in the United States, and both of them began as church-related celebrations. The first Father's Day was held on the 3rd Sunday of June by churches in the city of Spokane, Washington in 1910. While honoring our earthly fathers, let us not forget our "Father in heaven" to whom we owe even more than to our physical parents and ancestors. One of the most important teachings of Jesus Christ was that the almighty and eternal God, the holy and righteous Judge of the universe is our "heavenly Father". This is an amazing and life-changing truth. If, indeed, there is a personal Being ruling over the world and overseeing human history and if that Being is the kind of loving Father that Jesus revealed, then our minds can be at peace and our lives should be filled with faith and love rather than fear and hostility. I don't know how you will celebrate Father's Day today, but I urge you to remember that God, as revealed in Christ, is the Father of all who accept him through faith in the word and work of the One who revealed him.
Sumo wrestlers in America (85/06/17)
Over the past weekend, Americans have been treated to another taste of Japanese culture. Sumo wrestling has been on display before thousands of people in Madison Square Garden in New York City. Before going to New York, the wrestlers visited Washington D.C., met with Secretary of State Shultz and performed the dohyō-iri, or ring-entering ceremony, before some 200 State Department workers. They also visited the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Before their visit, U.N, officials were busy checking elevators and revolving doors to avoid any embarrassing international incident. Elevator capacities and revolving door spaces were set with normal sized people in mind. The combined weight of these 90 wrestlers is said to total about 17 tons. Americans who have the idea that all Japanese are small and wiry will now have to change their thinking. They may view these huge sportsmen as representatives of Japan's economic status in the world. Size, however, does not necessarily indicate importance or value as Jesus indicated in his parables about seeds, yeast and pearls in Matthew, chapter 13. A tiny bit of faith and love can truly have a great effect. (1580)
Hijacking (85/06/18)
Recently hijacking has once again been in the news. Nowadays, hijacking most often refers to the taking control of an airplane by one or more armed persons, forcing the pilot to fly to a different destination and holding the crew and passengers hostage. This term was originally used in reference to robbers of a truck and its cargo. It is said to have come from the greeting used by robbers to the driver, to whom they called out "Hi! Jack!" Some scholars suggest that the meaning of "Hi" in this case was not simply a greeting but actually meant, "Lift your arms high", or, in other words, "Stick 'em up!" Jack, which is a nickname for John or James, is sometimes used colloquially for any fellow whose name is not known. Because of the threat to the lives of many innocent people, hijacking deserves severe punishment by all nations, but some countries show leniency to hijackers, so it is difficult to eliminate it. On Sunday afternoon, June 30th, at 1:30, we will hold another meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages at the Y. W.C.A. The topic for discussion will be "Summer time", which has a couple of different meanings either of which will do. I hope you can attend. My wife and I would like to meet you there.(1581)
Yasuhiro Yamashita (85/06/19)
In Japanese, the word jūdō literally means "soft road", but jūdō was originally an art of self-defense, using no weapon other than one's hands and feet. I am sure that Yasuhiro Yamashita would deny that the road to becoming a jūdō expert is a "soft road". For the past number of years, the name of Yamashita has been closely associated with jūdō He has been the Japan jūdō champion for the past 9 years, has won 3 world championships and received the gold medal in the Los Angeles Olympics last year. On Monday, the 28 year old university instructor announced that he was retiring from his active jūdō career. It is always difficult for outstanding sportsmen to decide when to retire. They may wish to retire at the peak of their career, before the inevitable decline begins but it is difficult to perceive when the peak has been reached. The English writer, Malcolm Muggeridge, has written, "Few men of action have been able to make a graceful exit at the appropriate time." Mr. Yamashita has decided that it is time to retire and I think he has made a wise decision. May God grant us the wisdom to perceive when the time has arrived for us to gracefully retire along with the spiritual strength to remain faithful to the end. (1582)
Models of food (85/06/20)
The word "model" can be used in various ways. It may refer to a person or thing considered a standard of excellence to be imitated. It may refer to a person who poses for photographs to be used in advertising. It may also refer to a small copy of a larger object. In Japan, foreigners especially are favorably impressed with the plastic models of food displayed in show windows outside of restaurants which indicate the kind of food which may be ordered there. These food models are authentic and artistic representations serving a very useful purpose and other countries might well consider Japan a model in this regard. Many years ago, I entered a restaurant in Bulgaria with my family. The waiters could not speak English and we could not make head or tail of the menu, written in the Cyrillic alphabet. Consequently, I ordered our meals by pointing to food on the plates of others eating there or to leftover food being removed from other tables. Children need models after which to pattern their lives--and so do adults. In chapter 13 of the Gospel of John, we read that, after washing the feet of his disciples, Jesus said to them, "I have set you an example: you are to do as I have done for you". Jesus has provided the perfect model for us to follow.
Constitution of the U.S.A. (85/06/21)
9 years ago, the U. S. A. held various commemorative events to celebrate a 200th anniversary. Actually, that year was the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. There was not yet a united country in 1776, but 13 separate colonies, each with its own form of government and social organization. Not until 11 years later did the various colonies agree to work together to draw up a constitution and establish a national government. It was a difficult task to reach agreement among the independent-minded representatives, but a constitution was drawn up and, 198 years ago today, on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratify it, making it effective. That Constitution, which now has 26 amendments, has been in effect for almost 200 years. Benjamin Franklin noted that there were parts of the Constitution of which he did not approve, but he was astonished to find it so near to perfection as it was considering the variety of men with their "prejudices, passions, errors of opinion, local interests and selfish views" that produced it. Sometimes, individual preferences need to be subordinated to the more important goals of the larger community. (1584)
My wedding (85/06/22)
36 years ago today, in a small church in a suburban Chicago town, a pretty young girl in a wedding gown was accompanied down the central aisle by her father. Awaiting her at the front were 2 ministers, a groom, a best man, a matron of honor, 2 bridesmaids and 3 groomsmen including myself, my brother, 2 of my sisters and 2 of my friends along with the brother and sister-in-law of the girl who was about to become my wife. Since we had met at college where we both majored in Bible under a professor and minister we respected highly, we had asked him to perform the ceremony assisted by the minister of the church where my wife was a member. After the ceremony, attended by over a hundred relatives and friends, the reception was held in a hall in a neighboring town. The following day, my new wife and I began a 2 week honeymoon in a summer cabin beside a quiet lake in northern Wisconsin. The next year, after finishing my studies in New York City, we came to Japan, where our lives have been spent since then. On this anniversary day, I thank God for his blessings upon our life together and upon the family he has given us, joining with the writer of the 34th Psalm who wrote: "I will always thank the Lord; I will never stop praising him for what he has done."(1585)
Pursuing for peace (85/06/23)
What is it that most people are pursuing these days? That is the question with which I began my sermon this morning. The daily news reports indicate that countries are pursuing sophisticated weapons, factions are seeking to dominate other factions and people are pursuing schemes to make money or increase their personal influence. But in my scripture text for today, found in the New Testament Letter to the Romans, chapter 14, verse 19, Paul writes: "Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding." Rather than selfishly seeking personal benefits at others' expense or to dominate those around them, Christians should be engaged in pursuing activities and policies that work for peace and for the advancement of others as well as themselves. In fact, if we sincerely try to follow the teaching and example of Jesus, we would be willing to sacrifice ourselves and our personal comforts for the benefit of others. How about it? Are we willing to actively pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding both on a personal level and on a broader social and national level? Next Sunday, we will hold another meeting of listeners to these "Daily Word" telephone messages at the Y. W. C. A. beginning at 1:30. You are invited to attend. Our subject for discussion is "Summertime" and we would be happy to meet you there. (1586)
John the Baptist (85/06/24)
Today, June 24th, is a national holiday in Spain; it is also a legal holiday in the Canadian province of Quebec, which is predominately French. In the American Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, it is a day of special celebration, and in New York City also, it has become a major festival day for its many Puerto Rican citizens. These various celebrations all commemorate the birth of John the Baptist and San Juan, the capital city of Puerto Rico, was named after him. According to the 1st chapter of the Gospel of Luke, John was born 6 months before Jesus, so his nativity is celebrated 6 months before Christmas. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus and was sent to prepare the way for him. In the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verse 30, John says regarding Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease." Thus, John's birthday is celebrated at the time of year when the days begin to grow shorter even as Jesus' birthday is celebrated as days begin to grow longer. This humble attitude of John should characterize Jesus' disciples also. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30, we will hold a meeting of listeners to these telephone messages at the Y. W. C. A. Please come if you can. Our discussion theme is: "Summertime". (1587)
Summer time (85/06/25)
On Sundays, I return home after 10 o'clock at night, following a full day at our church in the city of Takahama. Last week, when I returned home on Sunday night, my wife was talking on the telephone. After picking up the extension phone in my study, I joined in the conversation with our son who had called from the United States to wish me a "Happy Father's Day". He had forgotten that there was another hour's difference in time now that the U.S. is on daylight-saving time, so his call was a little earlier than usual. Although some farmers and others continue to oppose its use, daylight-saving time is now followed throughout most of the United States for 6 months from the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. Some people refer to daylight-saving time as "summer time", made up of 2 separate words. "Summer time" was introduced into Japan during the American Occupation, but was not very popular and was revoked when Japan became independent. When spelled as a single word, "summertime" simply refers to the summer season. Either meaning of the word will be acceptable when we talk about "Summertime" at our "Daily Word" Listeners' Meeting next Sunday afternoon at the Y. W. C. A., beginning at 1:30. Please join us and share your thoughts with us. How will you spend your summertime this year? (1588)
Left-handed children (85/06/26)
In Russia, as in Japan, it has been customary to view left-handed children as strange and to force them to do things with their right hands, but recently the Soviet Ministry of Health has ordered schools and families to stop retraining left-handed children. Research has shown that there are about 11 million people in the Soviet Union who are naturally left-handed and a recent study by a group of scientists, educators and psychologists has concluded that attempting to change a natural left handed inclination is bad for a child, so there is no longer a stigma attached to being left-handed in that leftist country. But why is it that "left" has come to mean radical in political terms while "right" refers to the conservative side? In Biblical thought, the right side is the side of honor and authority. For example, Colossians, chapter 3, verse 1, speaks of Christ being seated at the right hand of God. In European legislatures, it was customary for the more distinguished members, who tended to be conservative, to be seated on the right of the speaker, which thus became the conservative side, while the more radical parties were seated on the left. On Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A., we will hold another "Daily Word" Listeners Meeting and my wife and I hope to meet you there. (1589)
Religion-related hostilities (85/06/27)
People who consider religion to be an influence for peace in the world have reason to be upset these days. Not only are there tensions between different religions, but different branches within the same religious stream are actively engaged in mutual warfare. Catholic and Protestant Christians fight one another in Ireland; Shiite Muslims battle Sunni Muslims in Lebanon; and Sikhs foment strife against their Hindu brothers in India. It should be noted, however, that in the case of all these religion-related hostilities, political and economic factors are also entangled. As Japanese history makes plain, religion may be used or misused by governments and unscrupulous men for very irreligious purposes. In the 12th chapter of Luke, Jesus made clear that a deeply held faith may cause disruption and division among people when he said that he came to set the earth on fire and to bring, not peace, but division. Some people maintain that the absence of religious strife in Japan is due to the peaceful character of Japanese religion, but others say it because the Japanese do not take their religion very seriously. Which do you think is right? Please join us at the "Daily Word" Listeners Meeting on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y.W.C.A. (1590)
The First World War started (85/06/28)
71 years ago today, on June 28, 1914, an event occurred that changed world history. On that day, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was visiting Sarajevo in what is now Yugoslavia. A member of a secret terrorist organization made up of Serbian nationalists opposed to Austro-Hungarian control of their territory assassinated the archduke and his wife as their motorcade slowed down at a river crossing. This was the spark that started the conflagration called the First World War. A month following that event, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia and countries allied to the opposing sides were drawn into the fray. Political and economic pressures had been building in Europe for years so this terrorist act merely provided the spark that lit the tinder. There are many explosive areas in the world today where terrorists are playing with fire. Between nations or individuals, strife is the result of self-centered thinking and loving our neighbors as ourselves is the only road to peace. Don't forget the "Daily Word" Listeners Meeting on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Y. W. C. A. I hope to see you there. (1591)
God works for good (85/06/02)
Commodore Perry arrived (85/06/03)
Yasukuni Shrine (85/06/04)
Atsuta Shrine (85/06/05)
Sweden (85/06/06)
The Green Club (85/06/07)
Queen Elizabeth's birthday (85/06/08)
Communism in Early Church (85/06/09)
Jehovah's Witnesses (85/06/10)
Kamehameha Day (85/06/11)
The Philippines (85/06/12)
The number 13 (85/06/13)
National flag (85/06/14)
Road signs (85/06/15)
Father's Day (85/06/16)
Sumo wrestlers in America (85/06/17)
Hijacking (85/06/18)
Yasuhiro Yamashita (85/06/19)
Models of food (85/06/20)
Constitution of the U.S.A. (85/06/21)
My wedding (85/06/22)
Pursuing for peace (85/06/23)
John the Baptist (85/06/24)
Summer time (85/06/25)
Left-handed children (85/06/26)
Religion-related hostilities (85/06/27)
The First World War started (85/06/28)
Cottonwood in Moscow (85/06/29)
Service (85/06/30)
June (85/06/01)