Dollars and Cents
Yen and Sen
Democrats and Republicans
A Golden Wedding Anniversary
Hummingbirds
Giving Gifts
Florida Ceded and Admitted
Introductions/Forward
"For Whom the Bell Tolls"
Malls
Walls
Names of Months
Mother Goose
Dollars and Cents
02/07/03
The "dollar" is the basic monetary unit in the United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and over a dozen smaller countries. Although there were no dollars in Scotland when Macbeth was the Scottish king in the 11th century, they are mentioned in Shakespeare's drama about that king which was written four centuries later. Thus, we are reminded that the historical details of even great literature are not always accurate. The word "dollar" is derived from the name given to coins made at a mint in Bohemia, located in Joachimsthal, the valley of Joachim, or Joseph, early in the 16th century. The coins were called "Joachimsthalers", which was shortened to "thalers" and then called "dalers" by the Dutch, which became "dollars" in English. The symbol used for a dollar is a capital S with one or two vertical lines running through it. According to one theory, this symbol originated from a capital U written on a capital S to represent the U. S. However, the standard symbol now used by the U. S. government has only one vertical line. It seems that the line, or lines, were first drawn over the capital S to make a clear distinction between the U. S. coin and the Spanish peso, or "piece of eight" that bore the figure 8. A "cent" is a coin worth one-hundredth of a dollar. This word was purposely coined in 1762 in the American colonies to avoid use of the British term, "penny." In the King James Version of the Bible, the Roman coin, a "denarius" that Jesus used to make his point about whether or not to pay taxes to the Roman government, was translated as "penny" in Mark 12:15. (440)
Yen and Sen
02/07/05
In an English dictionary, I find two different words spelled y-e-n, which are pronounced the same. Both of them are derived from Chinese. One, derived from a Chinese word related to opium or smoke, signifies a deep longing or desire. The other, related to a Chinese word meaning "round," denotes the monetary unit used in Japan. Even though the economic state of Japan today is not as bright as it was a few years ago, there are still many people who have a yen for the yen and many workers from abroad enter the country to gain some yen. In Japanese, however, the pronunciation of this Chinese character, meaning "circle," is not "yen" but "en." It was in 1871 that the "yen," or "en," was officially designated the Japanese monetary unit. Although there is a smaller monetary unit worth one-hundredth of a yen called a "sen," one does not find coins or bills bearing this designation today. When my wife and I first went to Japan in 1951, small bills worth ten or fifty sen were sometimes received at a bank when we exchanged foreign currency, but even at that time, when the rate of exchange was 360 yen to one dollar, sen bills were not commonly used. The most common paper money at that time were the one, ten, fifty or one-hundred yen bills. Nowadays, coins have replaced these bills and one-thousand, five-thousand and ten-thousand yen bills have become more common. The value of the currency of any country fluctuates depending on many factors, but the advice of Jesus, in Matthew 6:19-21, was not to accumulate temporary treasures on earth, but to store up eternal treasures in heaven. (441)
Democrats and Republicans
02/07/07
Most countries in the world today are "republics" and many of them include that word in their formal names. In a republic, power rests in the hands of citizens who are entitled to vote. Such countries may be called "democracies" for they are ruled by the people. Generally speaking, a "democrat" or a "republican" is a person who supports a democratic or a republican form of government. In the United States of America, however, when these words begin with a capital letter, they designate members of a political party. When the U. S. A. was being developed, there was disagreement between "federalists," who favored a strong central government, and "anti-federalists," who preferred that power be exercised by local administrators. "Anti-federalists," who first called themselves "Democratic Republicans," formed the Democratic Party in 1828 and were opposed by the Republican Party which was formed in 1854. At the present time, however, Democrats tend to favor programs administered by the federal government while Republicans support the power of local governments. Since the presidential election of 1828, when the Democratic candidate, Andrew Jackson, was called a "jackass," the donkey has become the symbol of that party. And after a cartoon appeared in 1874, in which an elephant symbolized the strength of the Republican vote, that animal became a symbol of the Republican Party. There is no reference to an elephant in the Bible, but the donkey was the animal Jesus chose to ride when he entered Jerusalem to symbolize his peaceful intention. (Matthew 21:1-11). (442)
A Golden Wedding Anniversary
02/07/09
Both silver and gold are precious metals, but gold is more precious as seen in the old proverb, "Speech is silver, silence is golden." Also, the 25th anniversary of one's marriage is the "silver anniversary" and the 50th anniversary is the "golden anniversary." These days, the percentage of marriages that last for fifty years is becoming less and less. Three years ago, when my wife and I celebrated our golden anniversary, we were given blue T-shirts with the words "50 Years of Happiness" printed in large golden letters on the back. On our anniversary, we wore them when we visited a famous recreational area and were given special treatment and recognition. Many people congratulated us and expressed amazement that we had stayed together for such a long time. Recently, one of my older sisters celebrated her golden wedding anniversary. Her four children and their families who live in France, the Central African Republic and the United States of America, gathered at her home in North Carolina along with other relatives and friends to celebrate the happy occasion. My wife and I, along with our daughter who was visiting us from Thailand, drove there from Florida. Along the way, we stopped to visit a couple we had known in Japan and went with them to the Peach Festival, celebrated on the 4th of July, Independence Day. Others drove from the states of West Virginia, Illinois, Michigan and Pennsylvania to attend. It was a very joyful time and together we thanked God for his blessing upon this couple who faithfully served as missionaries in Africa and whose children are also involved in Christian service. (452)
Hummingbirds
02/07/12
To "hum" is to make a low, continuous, murmuring sound like that of a bee or a prolonged "m" sound. A "humbug," however, is not a bug that hums. It is something done to deceive others, a hoax or sham. So what kind of a bird do you suppose a "hummingbird" is? The Japanese word for "hummingbird," pronounced "hachi-dori," consists of two Chinese characters, literally meaning "bee bird." A hummingbird is a very small bird with short wings and a long, narrow beak. It does not hum with its mouth but with its wings, which it flaps so rapidly that the wings seem blurred. According to my encyclopedia, which I find difficult to believe, hummingbirds can flap their wings between 50 and 75 beats per second and dart at speeds of up to 60 miles, or 97 kilometers, per hour. For the past couple of years, my wife and I have enjoyed looking out the window while eating our meals and seeing different kinds of birds that are attracted by our bird feeder. Along with sparrows and finches, there are cardinals, blue jays and woodpeckers. There are also cow birds and grackles, which we are not so fond of. Recently, we put up a new feeder for hummingbirds. It was almost a month after hanging the feeder under the eaves next to the window that we saw a hummingbird come and hover next to it. Then it stuck its long beak, with which it extracts nectar from flowers, into one of the holes to take a drink of the sweet liquid in the feeder. Now hummingbirds have been added to the list of birds we enjoy watching from our dining table and we thank God for the beauty and variety of the creatures that inhabit our world. (450)
Giving Gifts
02/07/14
A gift is something that is given voluntarily. It is presented as a present. In the United States of America, it is common to give gifts or present presents to celebrate special, happy occasions such as birthdays and weddings, graduations and promotions. In this way, we express our joy and congratulations to others. The most popular time to give gifts is at Christmas, commemorating the birth of Jesus, who Christians believe was God's gift to a sinful world. Japanese are considered a gift-giving people. Gifts are given on many occasions, not only to express gratitude and praise but also when seeking a favor. In modern Japan, as a result of Western influence, many people give Christmas presents and birthday presents, but traditionally, the gift giving seasons are at the end of the year and in the middle of the year. (Yearend gifts are called "seibo" and midyear gifts are called "chugen.") The gifts that are given at these times are to express thanks or appreciation for the friendship, help or consideration of others during the time that has passed. The Chinese characters for "chugen" literally mean "middle beginning" and are derived from the Chinese concept of an "early beginning" on January 15, a "late beginning" on October 15 and a "middle beginning" on July 15. These mid-year gifts are not only given to friends and relatives but to one's superiors in one's company and to teachers in schools. In Japan, the benefits received from deceased ancestors are also remembered at this time of year. At such a time, we may remember the words of Jesus recorded in Acts 20:35: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (453)
Florida Ceded and Admitted
02/07/17
My wife and I now live in the American state of Florida. The name of this state means "flowery" in Spanish and was given to this territory by the Spanish explorer, Ponce de Leon, when he landed here in 1513. There are many beautiful flowers in this state, all of which develop from their own particular seeds. People interested in agriculture or gardening recognize the many different kinds of seeds from which plants grow. Those of us who enjoy eating fruit also recognize the special kind of seed found in a particular fruit. And students of the English language will be interested to know that the word "seed," spelled s-e-e-d, has a homonym spelled c-e-d-e.This "cede" means "to surrender possession of officially or formally." It was 181 years ago this week, on July 17, 1821, that the territory known as Florida was ceded by Spain to the United States of America. From 1763, following the Seven Years War in Europe, Britain controlled this territory for twenty years. It was during that time that the 13 American colonies revolted against Britain and Florida became a haven for Loyalists who sided with Britain. In 1845, Florida was admitted as the 27th state, but during the Civil War, it became one of the Confederate States of America that withdrew from the Union. Following the war, it was only after the political powers in Florida approving of slavery receded and Floridians conceded that former slaves should be allowed to vote that the state was readmitted to the Union in 1868. At the present time, a large percentage of the state's population has come from outside the state. (454)
Introductions/Forward
02/07/19
"Introduce" is derived from a Latin word meaning "lead into." There are many different kinds of "introductions." We may introduce a person we know to others who have not yet met that person. That is a personal "introduction." On a more general level, the "introduction" of a speaker usually precedes the speaker's speech at a formal gathering. The basic textbook of a particular course of study may also be called an "introduction," and there are specific words to denote the introductions to certain compositions or documents. The first lines of a discourse or play may be called a "prologue." The brief, formal introduction of a constitution or treaty may be called a "preamble." The first chapter of some books may serve as the "introduction" to the theme of the book, but other books have a short introductory section called a "preface" or a "foreword." Previously, there was no difference between these two words, one derived from Latin and the other an Anglo-Saxon word. Now, however, a "preface" is ordinarily written by the author and a "foreword" is written by someone else. "Foreword" has a homonym with a different spelling. This "forward" is the opposite of "backward" and denotes movement toward the front, going ahead. "Forward, March" is one of the basic military commands and the person with a healthy faith can always look forward to the future with hope. According to the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, chapter 7, verse 24, one of the shortcomings of the Israelites, the chosen people of God, was that, after receiving God's commands, "they went backward and not forward." (455)
"For Whom the Bell Tolls"
02/07/21
One kind of "toll" is the fixed charge that must be paid by drivers of cars when they drive on a tollway. Another kind of "toll" is the sound made by a large bell, including those in the bell towers of many old churches. Such church bells are usually tolled on Sunday mornings to inform the surrounding community that the worship service or mass is about to begin. But these bells may also be tolled when funerals are held, when someone in the community has passed away. In Europe long ago, it was common for townspeople to ask, when they heard the church bell ring on a weekday, who had passed away, for whom did the bell toll? "For whom the bell tolls" has become a famous phrase in the English language. It was first used in an essay by John Donne, the outstanding English poet who became a minister in the 17th century. In this devotional essay, he emphasized the interdependence of all human beings and of their importance to one another. In it, as was common in the literary English of that day, the archaic forms "thy," "thine" and "thee" are used instead of the "your" and "you" of modern English. Here is the meaningful quotation which should stimulate all readers to think about their own mortality and their relationship with others: "No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the Sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." (456)
Malls
02/07/24
Famous places in the heart of London include the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St. James' Palace and the National Gallery, all of which are located on or near streets or places with such famous names as Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly and Pall Mall. The tall Nelson Monument in Trafalgar Square commemorates the victory of the British fleet under the command of Lord Nelson over the allied fleets of France and Spain off the coast of Cape Trafalgar in southwestern Spain in 1805. At the end of Piccadilly is the amusement center of London called Piccadilly Circus. Pall Mall was the name of a game played on the street in front of St. James' Palace in the 17th century in which a boxwood ball was struck with a mallet (or mall) to drive it through an iron ring suspended at the end of an alley. The alley, or street, on which this game was played became the center of fashionable club life in London so the name "Pall Mall" became a symbol of elegance. There is another London street nearby that is called "The Mall" and nowadays, there are many "malls" in the United States of America and elsewhere. These "malls" are streets lined with many shops but closed to vehicles. Many malls have roofs over the street and are popular shopping centers. There is a mall about 24 kilometers from our home where we sometimes go to shop. There, I enjoy sitting on a bench to read while my wife visits the stores and shops. Another kind of "mall" is a heavy, long-handled hammer used to drive stakes, but when used as a verb, it may mean to handle roughly, bruise, tear or injure.(457)
Walls
02/07/26
In today's message, we move from "malls" to "walls." A "wall" is an upright structure made of some kind of building material to enclose, divide or protect an area. One of the best-known streets in New York City is Wall Street, which is the center of the city's financial district. In the surrounding area are major stock exchanges, brokerage houses and offices of many banking firms and large industrial corporations. Thus, the term "Wall Street" has come to designate U. S. financial interests. It is a short, narrow street with high buildings on both sides, which has caused some tourists to think that the name was given because the street seemed "walled in," but this is not so. Actually, there was a wall built there in 1653 by Dutch colonists to protect the settled area south of it from assault by English colonists and by Indians. A "wallflower" has nothing to do with Wall Street. It is a plant having yellow, orange or brown flowers, but this word is also used to denote a person who does not participate in the activity of a social event because of shyness or unpopularity. Robert Frost, one of the most popular American poets of the 20th century, who died in 1963 at the age of 89, wrote a very meaningful poem entitled "Mending Wall." The poem, which begins with the words, "Something there is that doesn't love a wall," includes these words: "Before I built a wall I'd ask to know / What I was walling in or walling out / And to whom I was like to give offense. /Something there is that doesn't love a wall, / That wants it down." At the present time, there are too many "walls" between people which need to be eliminated. (458)
Names of Months
02/07/28
In calendars used throughout the world today, a year is divided into twelve units which are called "months" in English. The number of days in each month varies depending upon the month and the calendar used. In the Hebrew and Muslim calendars, months have 29 or 30 days. In the Gregorian calendar, seven months have 31 days, four have 30 days and one usually has 28 days, but every fourth year it has 29. Each of the calendars have different starting points and different names for the months. In the Hebrew calendar, this year is 5762. In the Muslim calendar, it is 1423, and in the Gregorian calendar it is 2002. In all calendars, each month has a special name, but the Japanese names of the months are very easy to remember because they simply combine the numbers from 1 to 12 with the word for "month" (or "moon"). The English names of the last four months of the year are derived from Latin names of the last four months of a ten-month year, so September, October, November and December are related to numbers 7, 8, 9 and 10. The name of this month of July is derived from the name of the Roman ruler, Julius Caesar, and that of the coming month of August is related to the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus. This Caesar is noted in the New Testament account of Jesus' birth in the 2nd chapter of Luke. In Luke 20:25, in response to the question of whether taxes should be paid to Caesar, after noting that coins bore the image of Caesar, Jesus said: "give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's," which may be related to the statement in Genesis 1:27 that man was made "in the image of God." (459)
Mother Goose
02/07/31
A "goose" is a web-footed water bird with a shorter neck than that of a swan and a shorter, more pointed bill than that of a duck. More precisely, a "goose" is a female bird, distinguished from the male bird which is called a "gander." The largest animal of the deer family is called a "moose" and a loop formed in a rope by means of a slipknot so that it binds tighter as the rope is pulled. is called a "noose." Another example of the irregularity of English is evident when we compare the plural forms of "goose," "moose" and "noose." The plural of "goose" is "geese;" the plural of "moose" is "moose" and the plural of "noose" is "nooses." Many of the short, rhymed poems for children, called "nursery rhymes" are also known as "Mother Goose" rhymes. And who is, or was, Mother Goose? It is said that a book of rhymes, entitled "Mother Goose's Melodies for Children" was published in New England in 1719 by a man who called himself the son-in-law of Elizabeth Goose, but no copy of that book has been found. Rather, it seems that a French author, Charles Perrault, was the originator of this term for he published a collection of stories called "Tales of Mother Goose" in 1697. Although most nursery rhymes are nonsensical or foolish, some of them may have some meaning to consider or provide food for thought. For example, "Jack Sprat could eat no fat, / His wife could eat no lean; / And so between them both, you see, / They licked the platter clean." So it is that individuals, groups or nations with different instincts, talents or interests may work together for a beneficial result. (451)