Colorado (88/08/01)
Today is a state holiday in one of the western states of the U. S. A. This state was named after a river which originates in the Rocky Mountains of the state. The river flows through deep canyons on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. Since the river is a reddish hue, it was given the name "Colorado", which is the Spanish word for that color. 112 years ago today, on August 1, 1876, the Colorado Territory was admitted to the Union as the 38th state. Because that was the hundredth year after the establishment of the United States, it is known as the Centennial State. Colorado has more high mountains than any other state and is famous for its ski resorts. When the Old Testament Psalmist looked at the mountains, he thought of the greatness and eternity of God, their Creator. When you look at majestic mountains, what do you think of? (2650)
Simian Aides (88/08/02)
Some handicapped people find it difficult to do even simple household tasks. They require the helping hands of others to assist them. The Walt Disney World in Florida has begun a program to provide such helping hands for handicapped people. However, the helping hands in this case are not human hands. They are the hands of simians, or monkeys. In this program, called "Helping Hands: Simian Aides for the Disabled", monkeys born in a breeding colony at Disney World are trained to live with human families and to perform simple tasks to assist disabled persons. They are trained to take food from the refrigerator and place it in front of their owner, to open liquid containers and insert straws, to clean up spills and to fetch certain items when needed. Especially in the case of quadriplegics, people who cannot use either arms or legs, simian aides are very helpful. Seven monkeys have already been placed with quadriplegics and eleven more are in training. Seeing Eye dogs are helpful for guiding blind people along streets, but Simian Aides will help the disabled around the house. According to Romans 15:1, those of us who are strong have a responsibility to help those who are weak. (2651)
Inazō Nitobe (88/08/03)
126 years ago today, on August 3, 1862, Inazo Nitobe was born in Morioka. After entering Sapporo Agricultural College, he was influenced by Christian students there and became a Christian himself. Following graduate studies in America and Germany, he returned to Japan and taught at a number of schools, including Tokyo University and the new Tokyo Women's Christian College. In 1921, he became a member of the Japanese delegation to the League of Nations. Along with Kanzo Uchimura, who was a classmate in Sapporo, he sought to root his Christian faith in Japanese soil. His famous book, Bushido, The Soul of Japan, has been translated into many different languages. It is an attempt to explain the traditional Japanese moral thought of Nitobe's day to westerners. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated, in Matthew 5:18, that he did not come to abolish or do away with the Jewish tradition of his day. Rather, he came to fulfill it or make it complete. Nitobe maintained that the same could be said in regard to Japanese tradition. He believed the seeds of the Gospel could be planted in Bushidō soil and bring forth a peculiar Japanese kind of Christian fruit. (2652)
Percy Shelley (88/08/04)
Do you enjoy poetry? Poems are compositions which convey a vivid and imaginative sense of experience. In the condensed language of poems, words are chosen not only for their meanings, but for their sounds and suggestive power as well. Traditional Japanese poetry has a unique quality that cannot be fully translated into other languages, but the poetry of western languages also suffers when translated into Japanese. The word, "poem", comes from a Greek word meaning "to create". The poet is a kind of creator and the poem is his or her creation. The longest book in the Bible is a collection of ancient poems called psalms, which were written by various poets. They express many human emotions, including doubts and fears as well as fervent faith. Poetry is not meant to be interpreted literally. It is meant to create an image or induce a mood. It is a kind of verbal painting. Today, August 4th, is the 196th anniversary of the birth of the English poet, Percy Shelley. Shelley's poetry reveals his belief in reason and the perfectibility of human beings. In his most important prose work, entitled "A Defence of Poetry", he defined poetry as "the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds." (2653)
Burkina Faso (88/08/05)
Have you ever heard of the city of Ouagadougou? Probably not. It is even more improbable that you could spell the name of this city even if you had heard of it. Spelled 0-u-a-g-a-d-o-u-g-o-u, it is the capital and largest city of one of the world's poorest countries. Unless you have a very up-to-date world map, the present name of that country will not be found, for its name was changed just four years ago. The new name, Burkina Faso, meaning "land of upright men", was chosen to symbolize a complete break with its colonial past. Until 1984, the country was known as Upper Volta. Now can you visualize where it is located? Probably not. Burkina Faso is a landlocked country which shares its borders with Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana and the Ivory Coast. 28 years ago today, it became an autonomous republic within the French Community. Most of us are not very "internationally minded" when it comes to African countries and their histories. They don't seem very important in today's world, even though their citizens are human beings like us: Many such countries are suffering greatly and need the help of richer nations in order to develop and even to survive. (2659)
Bolivia (88/08/06)
The English word "consent" is derived from a Latin term meaning "feel together". Consensus, referring to collective opinion or general agreement, is a very important element in Japanese decision-making. There seems to be a consensus developing that Tokyo is too large. There are too many head offices of major companies located there, too many governmental departments and too many people, all of which combine to make land prices and living costs too expensive. There are proposals to move certain government offices or even the whole national capital away from Tokyo. What do you think about this? There is a South American country that has two capital cities. One is the administrative capital and the other is the legal capital. That country is Bolivia, which was named after Simon Bolivar, the great liberator. Today is the Bolivian Independence Day, commemorating its independence from Peru, which was declared on August 6, 1825. In the 163 years since then, Bolivia has had more than 60 revolutions, 70 presidents and 11 constitutions. Evidently it's difficult to reach a lasting consensus in Bolivia. The 133rd Psalm is a poem extolling the virtue of people living together in harmony. (2653)
Passover (88/08/07)
Anyone who knows more than one language has experienced the difficulty of translating words and thoughts from one language to another. In many cases a truly exact translation is impossible because of differences in culture and ways of thinking and expression. It is particularly difficult to translate religious concepts from one culture to another. The most important festival in the Jewish religious tradition is called the Passover. Its origin is found in the 12th chapter of Exodus, the second book in the Old Testament. The details of this religious festival are difficult for modern Americans or Japanese, with our different cultures and customs, to understand. But the point is that God's judgment "passed over" the homes of his chosen people who had sacrificed a lamb in obedience to his commandment and he delivered them from Egyptian bondage. Jesus' crucifixion occurred during the celebration of this Passover feast and in the New Testament book of I Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 8, Christ is called our "Passover lamb" who was sacrificed for us to deliver us from the bondage of sin. Thus, Christians see in the Jewish Passover tradition a symbolic representation of the work of Christ, who gave his life to liberate all people from their spiritual bondage. (2656)
Missing (88/08/08)
Recently the Hamburg Police Department received a letter from a man which read; "To conform with the law I would like to inform you that my wife has not been seen for several weeks. Personally I do not miss her. Please do take your time in this matter." At about the same time, a couple of parents in Los Angeles were frantically looking for their foster child who did not return home from an athletic program. They later found out that the six-year-old boy had boarded a bus with other children and spent five days at a summer camp where he was assigned a bed and enjoyed hiking, swimming and sitting around the campfire with others. If we become missing some day, what would be the reaction of others? In the 15th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus compares people to lost sheep which God, the divine Shepherd, will keep looking for until he finds them and joyfully brings them back home.(2657)
Changes (88/08/09)
Since these daily messages are now composed two weeks before they are transmitted, it is difficult to comment on so-called "hot news", but regular listeners will have noticed some changes that took place a couple of weeks ago. Since then, new machines, placed in my study, have been used to tape and transmit the messages. There is now a gap of a few seconds between the end of a message and its repetition because two tapes are used instead of a single, endless tape as before. Also, the messages are repeated for only five minutes during a single telephone call. For ten days following the changeover, I was absent from home, but my neighbor and landlord regularly changed the tapes during that time. I hope there was no problem. Incidentally, you may view these daily messages on the screen of any CAPTAIN videotex terminal. These tanmatsu are located throughout the country, but in the Nagoya area they use the name of NAMOS. Printed copies of messages for the following week are sent out every Thursday to those requesting them. If you desire more information about this service or have comments to make regarding it, please write me a letter. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (2658)
Missouri (88/08/10)
Do you know the name of the longest river in the United States? It is also the name of a state. No, it is not the Mississippi River. It is the Missouri River, which joins the Mississippi north of St. Louis, the state of Missouri's largest city. Missouri was admitted as the 24th state 167 years ago today, on August 10, 1821. Its name comes from an Indian word, meaning either "muddy water" or "people of big canoes". This state is also known as the "Show Me State". In fact, anyone not convinced by persuasive words may simply reply: "I'm from Missouri", which means, "words alone are not enough; you have to show me!" This expression comes from the speech of a Missouri congressman in Philadelphia, in 1899 where he said, "I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me, I am from Missouri. You have got to show me." We need to be wary of the smooth talk of some politicians, salesmen and religious propagandists and seek the reality behind the words. In John 1:46, when a man expressed doubt about the words of a disciple of Jesus, he was invited to "Come and see". A true witness not only speaks the truth but leads others to see the truth for themselves. (2659)
Geese (88/08/11)
As you well know, one of the difficulties of learning English is the irregularity of its grammatical rules. Although the plural of moose, which is a large deer, is moose, the plural of goose is geese. A goose is a water bird that is larger than a duck and has a longer neck. Minneapolis, Minnesota has too many geese. Flocks of geese, which have immigrated from Canada, fly in a V-pattern through the city streets, swim in long lines through city parks and congregate on beaches. They also waddle single-file across major highways, sometimes causing traffic jams. Outlying areas of the city were opened to hunters for ten days last autumn in an attempt to reduce the goose population. Local hunters were permitted to shoot up to four geese daily and up to eight over the ten-day period. A silly or foolish person may also be called a "goose". Even as a goose enjoys cackling or chattering, according to Ecclesiastes chapter 10, "a fool's tongue is his undoing" for he "talks on and on". On Sunday afternoon, August 21st, at1:30, we will hold a meeting of "Daily Word" listeners at the NTT Building next to the Marunouchi Chūgakkō in Naka-ku, Nagoya. My wife and I would like to meet you there, when we will talk about the Olympics. (2660)
Grouse (88/08/12)
In informal English, "grouse", spelled g-r-o-u-s-e, means to complain or grumble about something. However, actually a grouse is a game bird. In this case, "game" refers to a wild bird which is hunted for sport or food. Grouse are found mainly in the colder areas of the northern hemisphere. They are somewhat similar to domestic chickens in that they do not fly for long distances but usually stay on the ground. Some of them have beautiful plumage in shades of red, brown and gray which harmonize with their surroundings and make it difficult for hunters to spy them. In the United States, one kind of grouse is also known as a pheasant or a partridge. Since the flesh of this bird is very tasty, hunting them is a favorite sport of some people. In Scotland, this twelfth day of August, known as the Glorious Twelfth, is the day the grouse season opens and hunters go out to the wooded areas with their dogs. The word "glorious" may mean splendid or magnificent, but it basically refers to that which has or deserves glory. In the Bible glorious is a term that is often used in reference to God and in Psalm 72:19, we are told to praise his "glorious name" forever. (2661)
Lefthanders (88/08/13)
In political terminology, "right" refers to a conservative position and "left" indicates a liberal or radical viewpoint. These meanings were derived from the custom of legislative bodies in European countries, where conservative parties are seated on the right, or honored side, of the chairman and liberal groups are seated on the left. Of course, from the conservative's viewpoint, the right side is the right side while the liberal considers the left side to be the right side, if you understand what I mean. In baseball, a left-handed pitcher is called a southpaw. Literally, a paw is the clawed foot of an animal, but informally it is also used for a human hand, "Southpaw" was coined in Chicago, where home plate was on the west of the baseball diamond, so a left-handed pitcher threw the ball from the south side and was labeled a "southpaw". In 1982, a group called Lefthanders International chose Friday, the 13th of August to celebrate Lefthanders Day in order to promote the rights of lefthanded people and to encourage manufacturers to consider their special needs. Most of us don't realize the problems faced by those who are different from the majority of people around them and we should make an effort to see things from their viewpoint also. (2662)
Mary and Martha (88/08/14)
Among Jesus' 12 disciples or apostles there were two pairs of brothers, all four of whom were fishermen. Simon Peter and Andrew were brothers and so were James and John. Outside of Jerusalem in the town of Bethany was a home that Jesus used to visit. In this home was a pair of sisters who lived with their brother. The sisters' names were Mary and Martha. In the Gospel of Luke, at the end of chapter 10, there is a short account of one of Jesus' visits there. In this story, the contrasting characters of the two sisters are clearly seen. Martha was an active person, busily preparing a meal, while Mary was a quiet, thoughtful listener to Jesus' teaching. Martha became upset with her sister and asked Jesus to scold her for not helping, but Jesus praised Mary for her single-minded concentration on what was more important. In the Roman Catholic Church, St. Martha is considered the patron saint of inn-keepers, housekeepers, hotelkeepers, cooks and laundresses. In the church and in society at large, we need people like both Martha and Mary. We need quiet thinkers, listeners or dreamers as well as active workers or doers. In fact, all people should have both a reflective and an active element within themselves. (964a)
Imperial rescript (88/08/15)
At 12 o'clock noon, 43 years ago today, NHK radio announced a broadcast of "the gravest importance". All listeners were told to rise as they listened to an imperial rescript from his majesty, the Emperor. Then, following the strains of kimigayo, for the first time in history, the voice of a Japanese emperor was publicly broadcast. He informed his "good and loyal subjects" that he had "resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is insufferable." He ended with an exhortation to "work with resolution" to "enhance the innate glory of the Imperial State." Thus, the Pacific War came to a close and a new era began for Japan. Due to poor reception, few listeners caught all of the Emperor's words, but they understood their meaning. It is said that at that moment, more people wept simultaneously than at any other time in history. Psalm 30:5 states that "Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning." (981a)
Baseball (88/08/16)
Recently, people throughout the country have been watching and listening to the National High School Baseball Tournament on television and radio. Baseball is definitely the most popular sport in this country. It was introduced from the United States 95 years ago, in 1893. Its name comes from the four bases around which a player must run in order to score a point. Although the bases are now set at the corners of a square, the playing field is still called a diamond. Most of the terms used in Japanese relating to baseball come directly from American usage, but the Japanese expression foābōru has a peculiar Japanese meaning. In America, "four balls" may be used to indicate the count of balls and strikes on the batter, but the result of a count of four balls is a "walk" or "a base on balls". That is, the batter can walk to first base; he need not run. Although the Old Testament prophet was not referring to baseball, in the last verse of Isaiah, chapter 40, he promised new strength to those who trust in the Lord. He wrote: "they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak." (978a)
Indonesia (88/08/17)
Do you know the five countries in the world with the highest populations? They are China, India, the U.S.S.R., the U.S.A. and Indonesia. Today is Independence Day in Indonesia. Like Japan and the Philippines, Indonesia is an archipelago. That is, it is made up of many islands. Japan is said to have some 3000 islands and the Philippines over 7000, but Indonesia has 13,677 islands in its territorial waters. Until the Japanese occupation during the Pacific War, this country had been a colony of the Netherlands. After Japan's defeat, the Republic of Indonesia declared its independence on August 17, 1945, although it took four more years of fighting before the Netherlands recognized Indonesian sovereignty. Indonesia with many natural resources is a leading nation in the production of natural rubber, petroleum and tin. Whether it be natural resources or natural ability, God expects us to make good use of the gifts he has given us. My wife and I hope you can attend the "Daily Word" listeners' meeting next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the NTT Building next to the Marunouchi Chūgakkō here in Nagoya. I will make some comments about the Olympics and would like to hear your comments on this subject also. (983a)
An armored car (88/08/18)
In battles long ago, fighters protected themselves from the weapons or arms of their opponents by wearing a kind of protective covering called armor. Nowadays, armor is no longer worn by soldiers, but armored cars, covered with a protective plate, are used to transport valuables. A few years ago, an armored car in California stopped at a red light at a busy intersection during the rush hour. Unexpectedly, its rear door swung open and bags of money fell to the street. Passersby filled their pockets with money and ran away. Some left cars in the middle of the street and others jumped from busses or ran out of offices to help themselves to the windfall. This is a sad commentary on the present state of morality on a part of American society. Some people consider money of greatest value and do not hesitate to seize what is not their own. In I Timothy 6:10, we read, "the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows." I hope you can attend the meeting of listeners to these telephone messages next Sunday afternoon beginning at 1:30 at the NTT Building next to the Marunouchi Chūgakkō. (987)
Tensei-jingo (88/08/19)
What part of a Japanese daily newspaper do you think is most widely read: the sports page? the financial section? comic strips? local or foreign news? the TV listings? According to the Asahi Shinbun, the most popular part of that newspaper is the daily, frontpage column called Tensei-jingo. This column has been appearing in that newspaper for some 80 years. Tensei-jingo literally means "heaven's voice, human language". It is translated into "English" as vox populi vox dei; which is actually a Latin phrase meaning "the voice of the people is the voice of God". One of the basic principles of a democracy is that the will of the majority be reflected in the decisions of its leaders. However, we cannot say that the majority is always wise or always right. In fact, famous historical figures who are now highly respected often achieved greatness by not following the opinion of the masses but standing for what they believed to be right despite popular opposition. A prophet is one who hears the voice of God and proclaims it regardless of the voice of the people. (991a)
Sewing (88/08/20)
There are three different English words pronounced "so". One, spelled s-o, is an adverb meaning consequently. By adding a "w", a verb meaning to scatter seed is formed. Yet another verb, with the same pronunciation, is spelled s-e-w and refers to the work done with a needle and thread. Sewing has an ancient history. According to the biblical story of Adam and Eve in Genesis, chapter 3, the first thing they did after eating the forbidden fruit was to sew fig leaves together to cover their nakedness. One of the many mechanical devices invented during the Industrial Revolution was the sewing machine. Men in England, France and the United States invented different kinds of sewing machines, but the American inventor, Elias Howe, received the first patent for such a machine in 1846. A few years later, Isaac Singer made improvements and began producing the Singer sewing machine. In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 2, Jesus taught that new cloth sewn on an old coat to patch it up will result in a greater tear [because it will shrink when washed]. He thus indicated that his new teachings will not harmonize with old Jewish traditions. Tomorrow afternoon at 1:30, we will hold a meeting of listeners to these telephone messages at the NTT Building across the street from the Chūnichi Shinbun building in Marunouchi Itchōme. Please come if you can. (944)
Salutations (88/08/21)
A number of English salutations may be used both as a greeting when meeting another and as a word of farewell when parting. For example, "Good Morning", "Good Afternoon" and "Good Evening" as well as "Good Day' may all be used either as a greeting or a farewell. "Good Night", on the other hand, is used only when parting or when going to bed. "Good-by" is a shortened form of "God be with you" and, as you know, is only used when parting. Another, more colloquial, parting word is "So Long". Just as the Japanese sayonara is a shortened form of sayonaraba, this may be a shortened form of "so long as we are parted", that is, "until we meet again". However, there is also the possibility that it comes from the Arabic greeting, salaam, which is similar to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace'. This is the word of greeting that Jesus used when he met his disciples following his resurrection. Also, according to the Gospel of John, chapter 14, verse 27, before Jesus left his disciples he said to them, "Peace is my parting gift to you, my own peace, such as the world cannot give." "Peace" is a good word both for greeting and parting, both for individuals and for nations, but genuine peace is a gift of God. (937a)
Streetcars (88/08/22)
The word "car" comes from the Latin word from which we get the word "chariot". "Car" may refer to a number of different kinds of vehicles on wheels, but today it most commonly refers to a motorcar, or automobile. 150 years ago in New York, horse cars on rails were pulled along the streets by horses. Later, these vehicles were called streetcars and they were run by electric power rather than by horsepower. 85 years ago today, on August 22, 1903, a streetcar was put into operation in Tokyo between Shinbashi and Shinagawa. This was not the first streetcar line in Japan, however, for streetcars were already operating in Kyoto before that. Streetcars were an economical means of transportation and did not pollute the air. Over 14 years ago, the last streetcar line was closed down in Nagoya. As times change so do modes of transportation, fashions and life styles, but amidst all the changes of life, God's truth and love remain the same. (988a)
Double entendre (88/08/23)
The English expression, "double entendre", which comes from French, refers to a word or expression with two meanings. Thus, it is similar to a pun, which is a humorous play on words. The Maaviv news paper, published in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, once used a double entendre in the headline of a story which read, "There Are Too Many Donkeys in Israel." What did the headline mean? Of course, a donkey is actually an animal resembling a small horse, but with longer ears and a different disposition. The story was about the government's refusal to issue a permit for the importing of 80,000 wild donkeys from southern Africa, where they were facing destruction. The Agriculture Minister stated that there were already enough donkeys in the country. However, "donkey" is also used to refer to a person regarded as stupid, foolish or obstinate, so the minister's statement and the headline could also mean that there are too many stupid, obstinate people in Israel. There probably are--and in all other countries of the world as well. Shakespeare has written that "the fool thinks he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool." (928a)
Pupil (88/08/24)
Do you know what a pupil is? One meaning of pupil is a student under the direct supervision of a teacher. We usually use this word for children, so those attending elementary school, or grade school, are commonly called pupils: This word is rooted in the Latin word for boy or girl, which in turn came from a word meaning doll or puppet. When you look closely into the center of another person's eye, what do you see? You see a tiny image of yourself. The Romans thought this image resembled a doll, so they also called this part of the eye a pupil. In Japanese, it is called hitomi, and the Chinese character for hitomi consists of an eye and a small child. In ancient day, it was thought that the pupil was a round object like an apple, so the pupil was known as "the apple of one's eye" and the expression "apple of the eye" came to refer to something very precious. We may call a dearly-loved child "the apple of one's eye", like the Japanese saying, me ni iretemo itakunai. In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, chapter 32, verse 10, God's chosen people are called "the apple of his eye". Christians believe that people today are still precious in the sight of the Almighty God--the apple of his eye. (2663)
Uruguay (88/08/25)
Today is a national holiday in one of the smallest countries in South America. Less than half the size of Japan, Uruguay is located on the east coast of the continent between Brazil and Argentina. Following its early domination by Spain and Portugal, Uruguay was incorporated into Brazil, but 163 years ago today, on August 25, 1825, it proclaimed its independence. Meat and wool exports made the country prosperous and in the early 20th century it established a welfare state. However, Uruguay faced economic difficulties as it struggled to maintain a large bureaucracy and costly social benefits. Under the repressive rule of a 12-year-long military dictatorship, its economy suffered further and a civilian government was restored to power in1985. The national flag of Uruguay has a pattern similar to that of the United States, but the stripes are light blue and white with a golden sun in the upper corner. The unique feature of this flag is that the sun, with its radiant rays has a face. Although the sun itself is not a person, it may be considered a symbol of the blessing of God, the Creator, and in Matthew 17:2, we read that the face of Jesus once shown like the sun. (2664)
Sisters' visit (88/08/26)
Earlier this month, my two younger sisters and one of their sons came for a visit. Both of these sisters are school teachers and the son who accompanied them is a university student. This past year, one of the pupils in my youngest sister's class was a Japanese girl whose father was doing research at the University of Michigan. This Dr. Ike met them at Narita airport and took them to his home in Maebashi where they stayed for two nights and visited Nikko. Then they came to Lake Nojiri and stayed with us for two nights before we brought them to Nagoya. After attending our church in Takahama on Sunday, we visited the Yoshihama Doll Factory there. They also toured the Toyota Motor Company and the Noritake China factory, visited places of interest in Nagoya, took a one-day excursion trip to Kyoto and did some sightseeing in Tokyo before returning to their homes in Illinois and Michigan. They enjoyed viewing part of a local festival near our home and a bon-odori. They slept on the tatami mats in our guest room and were able to handle chopsticks fairly well. They were very favorably impressed with the Japanese people they met and their major complaint was that everything was so expensive. My wife and I enjoyed their visit and we continue to thank God for the loving family he has given us. (2665)
LBJ (88/08/27)
Some United States' presidents are sometimes referred to by the initials of their names which were often used in newspaper headlines. Among well-known initials are FDR, for Franklin Delano Roosevelt, JFK, for John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and LBJ, for the man who succeeded Kennedy as the 36th president. This man was born in Texas 80 years ago today, on August 27, 1908. His mother's maiden name was Baines and his surname is one of the most common in the United States. Before entering politics, he was a high school teacher of public speaking and his oratorical skills helped him get elected to the House of Representatives and the Senate. Losing to JFK in the contest to gain the Democratic Party's nomination for president, he accepted the offer to become the vice-presidential candidate and his political influence in the south contributed to Kennedy's victory. He became president upon Kennedy's assassination in1963. Although he skillfully enacted various social reforms, his disastrous policy in Vietnam proved his downfall. Over 20 years ago, Lyndon Baines Johnson stated: "We are now in the midst of a great transition from narrow nationalism to internationalism." Do you think his words are true of Japan today? (2666)
God our shepherd (88/08/28)
A psalm is a sacred song or hymn and the longest book in the Bible is the Old Testament book of Psalms, which is a kind of Jewish hymnbook. Some psalms are poetic prayers to God. Others are expressions of the faith of the psalmist. One of the best-known and best-loved passages in the Bible is the 23rd Psalm, which begins with the words, "The Lord is my shepherd." The spiritual, invisible God of the Bible is pictured in many different ways to make his character clear. He is called a Rock, a Refuge, a King and our heavenly father, but in this psalm he is called a Shepherd. A shepherd feeds, leads, protects and cares for a flock of sheep. Sheep are somewhat foolish animals which are easily led astray. In the Bible, people are often compared to sheep and God is the shepherd who loves, guides, protects and provides for us foolish human beings. He leads us to green pastures and to quiet pools of fresh water. He goes with us on the dark and difficult paths through dangerous places and protects us with his rod and staff. If God is our shepherd, he will supply our needs and we have no need to fear. The quiet and humble faith of the poet who wrote this psalm has inspired man and women throughout the ages and I think you would enjoy reading it also. (2667)
Oliver Wendell Holmes (88/08/29)
Two great men in American history have the same name. As you may imagine, they were father and son, although the terms "senior" and "junior" are not usually affixed to their names. The younger Oliver Wendell Holmes became an outstanding justice of the Supreme Court. His father, who was born 79 years ago today, on August 29, 1809, was a versatile man who combined scientific knowledge with poetic creativity. He was a noted author, poet, humorist, lecturer and physician. Because of his poem, "Old Ironsides'", an American warship, the USS Constitution, was not sent to the scrap heap but was preserved as a historical monument which is visited by many people today. 0liver Wendell Holmes once said: "The great thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving." In what direction are you moving? (2668)
Simian Aides (88/08/02)
Inazō Nitobe (88/08/03)
Percy Shelley (88/08/04)
Burkina Faso (88/08/05)
Bolivia (88/08/06)
Passover (88/08/07)
Missing (88/08/08)
Changes (88/08/09)
Missouri (88/08/10)
Geese (88/08/11)
Grouse (88/08/12)
Lefthanders (88/08/13)
Mary and Martha (88/08/14)
Imperial rescript (88/08/15)
Baseball (88/08/16)
Indonesia (88/08/17)
An armored car (88/08/18)
Tensei-jingo (88/08/19)
Sewing (88/08/20)
Salutations (88/08/21)
Streetcars (88/08/22)
Double entendre (88/08/23)
Pupil (88/08/24)
Uruguay (88/08/25)
Sisters' visit (88/08/26)
LBJ (88/08/27)
God our shepherd (88/08/28)
Oliver Wendell Holmes (88/08/29)
Gossip (88/08/30)
Impressions of Japan (88/08/31)
Colorado (88/08/01)