Airport
Worship
Live Oaks, Spanish, English
Dutch and Irish
Water
Commemorative Days
Port and Starboard
Titles for Teachers
Ice Cream Social
Crows
St. Louis
Hamburger/Frankfurter/Hot Dog
Knickknacks

Airport
02/08/02

There are five different English words spelled p-o-r-t. One denotes a kind of wine. Another signifies the left-hand side of a ship or aircraft facing forward. A third denotes the place on a waterway that provides a harbor for ships. Aircraft also need a place to take off or land and where passengers or cargo can be loaded or unloaded. Such a place is called an "airport." During the past month, my wife and I have made numerous trips to an airport about fifty miles from our home. Just one month ago, we went there to meet our daughter who had arrived from Thailand on a Saturday morning. The following Monday evening, we went there to pick up our neighbor who was returning with his granddaughter from a visit to Japan. Because their plane was delayed, we had to remain for a couple of hours in the airport area until they arrived after midnight. The following week, our two granddaughters, aged 16 and 14, arrived from Japan. Another granddaughter, who is 12 years old, was scheduled to arrive from New Mexico the following Sunday evening, but due to excessive rain in Texas, her flight was canceled. Due to the uncertain weather conditions, she was not permitted to take the flight the next day because she was traveling by herself, so she arrived on Tuesday evening. On Friday of that week, we took our daughter to the airport for her return flight to Thailand and on Tuesday of this week (July 30th), we took our granddaughters for their return flights to New Mexico and Japan. It has been a busy but enjoyable month for us. We are thankful for the nearby airport and for the safe trips of our family members. (460)

Worship
02/08/04

Some students of English in foreign countries have difficulty distinguishing words with very similar pronunciations. One example is the difference between "warship" and "worship." A "warship" is a combat ship used in war, but "worship" denotes the reverent love and allegiance accorded a deity. All religions engage in some form of worship, but the object of worship, the places and forms of worship are quite different. Among Christian churches also there are various forms of worship. In the Roman Catholic Church, the central form of worship is called "mass," which must be distinguished from "mess." The "mass" is a celebration of the "Eucharist," which, in Protestant churches is called "Communion" or "the Lord's Supper." In that ceremony, bread and wine, representing the body and blood of Jesus are received by the worshippers who, in this way, remember Jesus' death on the cross for their sins. Over the years, traditional forms become very standardized and many people identify rituals with worship. Without thinking of the meaning of the rituals or of the words they read, sing or hear, they think they are worshipping if they perform the rituals. Both the Old Testament prophets, the New Testament apostles and Jesus himself make clear, however, that true worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24) is not expressed in ritualistic forms but in daily acts of mercy and justice which manifest the character of God (Isaiah 1:11-17; Matthew 7:21; Mark 7:6-8; Matthew 23:23; James 1:26-27). "Actions speak louder than words." This was my sermon at Penney Memorial Church on Sunday, August 4th. (461)

Live Oaks, Spanish, English
02/08/07

According to my encyclopedia, there are about 300 species of oak trees. One wide-spreading, evergreen oak that is native to the southeastern United States has been given the interesting name of "live oak," presumably because there are green leaves on it all year round. There is a live oak tree down the street from our house. From the branches of this tree hang many long gray stems of a plant called "Spanish moss." Until I moved to this area, I was unacquainted with this "mosslike plant" which is also called "Florida moss." Since it is seen hanging from many trees and bushes in this area, I can imagine why it was given that name. Checking my dictionary, I find that there are a number of plants that begin with "Spanish," including Spanish bayonet, Spanish cedar, Spanish chestnut, Spanish needles and Spanish onion. There is also a fish called Spanish mackerel, a beetle called Spanish fly, a mild seasoning called Spanish paprika and a dish consisting of rice cooked with tomatoes, spices, chopped onions and green peppers called Spanish rice. Finding these names, I wondered why the spin that I often put on the tennis ball while playing tennis is called "English" (which some of my opponents who know my background call "Japanese"). I find that this adjective was first applied to a billiard ball that had been given a spin by hitting it off center and was probably used by non-English players to denote the tricky or deceitful effects of such a stroke by an Englishman. Englishmen have coined a number of insulting expressions beginning with "Dutch," which will be considered in a subsequent message. (448)

Dutch and Irish
02/08/09

The Netherlands is a European country located on the coast of the North Sea. Natives of the Netherlands are now called "Dutch," although this word, which can be traced back to a Gothic word meaning "tribe," originally was used for Germans. In the United States of America, even today, "Pennsylvania Dutch" is used for the German settlers in the state of Pennsylvania. Since the 17th century, this word has been applied to natives of the Netherlands. At that time, there was great rivalry between Great Britain and the Netherlands and their colonial empires and a number of derogatory terms were coined by the British that include the word "Dutch." A "Dutch uncle" is a person who bluntly and sternly lectures or scolds someone. "Dutch courage" is courage stimulated by drinking alcoholic liquor. A "Dutch treat" is an entertainment or party at which each participant pays his or her own expenses, which is also the meaning of the expression "go Dutch." "Dutch reckoning" denotes guesswork, "Dutch defense" means retreat or surrender and to be "in Dutch" means to be in difficulties or disfavor. Natives of the nation of Ireland are called "Irish" and there are expressions also related to this word. To "get one's Irish up" means to arouse one's temper and "Irish confetti" denotes the bricks thrown by one group of rascals at another group during a confrontation. "Irish potatoes" are white potatoes which are extensively cultivated in Ireland and are one of the ingredients of "Irish stew." "Dutch" and "Irish" have their particular implications, but both Dutchmen and Irishmen are a part of our global village. (449)

Water
02/08/11

Life as we know it would be inconceivable without the odorless, tasteless, transparent liquid called water, which in its solid form is called ice. Water covers about 70% of the earth's surface; most of the living tissue of human beings consists of water, including about 92% of blood plasma, 80% of muscle tissue, 60% of red blood cells and over half of most other tissues. Water has been called "a medicine for the cure of thirst," but not all water is good to drink. In the ballad about "The Ancient Mariner" sailing on the ocean by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is the famous line: "Water, water, every where / Nor any drop to drink." It is said that a person drinks about 16,000 gallons (60,500 liters) of water in a lifetime and that the average American uses about 168 gallons (636 liters) of water daily for drinking, washing, etc. All forms of life, both plant and animal life, require water to survive. Water may come down as rain from above, which in the Old Testament is called "showers of blessing" (Ezekiel 34:26), or it may issue from a spring underneath. In Jesus' conversation with a Samaritan woman, recorded in the Gospel of John, he contrasts the physical water that may be drawn from a well with the spiritual water he gives to those who ask: "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again," he said, "but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (4:13-14). Later, he invited thirsty people to come to him and drink, saying that "streams of living water will flow from within" those who believe in him (7:38). (464)

Commemorative Days
02/08/14

Every country has special days to commemorate historical events that are considered important and worthy of remembrance. Last week, a couple of special days were observed in Japan that were generally ignored in the U. S. A. August 6th was the 57th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima and on August 9th, a second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. On those days, special memorial services were held at "peace parks" in those cities to commemorate those sad events and to pray for peace. In the U. S. A., memorial services are held in some cities on December 7th, known as "Pearl Harbor Day", commemorating the Japanese attack on the naval vessels and airplanes at Pearl Harbor on that day in 1941. On August 14,1945, the week after the atomic bombings and the Soviet Union's declaration of war on Japan, the Japanese government agreed to the unconditional surrender terms of the Allied Forces which brought an end to the Pacific War and to World War II. That "V-J (Victory over Japan) Day," occurred three months after the war ended in Europe on May 8th, which is known as "V-E Day." V-J Day is commemorated in some American cities and is even celebrated as a legal holiday in a couple of states. Although August 14th was the day the fighting stopped, it was about three weeks later, on September 2nd (Japan time), that the formal ratification of surrender took place on an American battleship in Tokyo Bay, marking the official end of the war. Ideally, commemorating these events should strengthen the resolve to work for world peace, but is it so? (463)

Port and Starboard
02/08/16

As noted in a previous message, "port" may denote a kind of wine--sweet, dark-red wine. Another word spelled and pronounced the same denotes a harbor for ships. Another homonym means "to carry," so if something is "portable," it is easily carried. And yet another meaning of "port" is the opening in an armored vehicle or fortified structure through which weapons may be fired. Such openings may be called "portholes." There are "portholes" in the walls of forts and on the sides of warships. Now, however, the small, circular openings in the side of any ship to admit light or air are also called "portholes." Such openings are not only found on the "port" side of the ship, which is the left-hand side of a ship when facing forward and the opposite of "starboard." The word "starboard" has nothing to do with stars. Rather, it is derived from Anglo-Saxon words meaning "steer side" for the oarsman who steered the boat stood on the right side near the stern. Originally, the left side of the boat was called "larboard," probably because that was the side of the ship on which cargo was loaded, or laded. Because the similar pronunciation of these two opposites led to confusion and possibly to some collisions, the word "port" was chosen to replace "larboard." The "port" side was the side which usually faced the port when the boat was docked. The words denoting the front and back of a boat, "bow" and "stern" are derived from German or Scandinavian roots. While a child makes a bow in the bow, his father may look stern in the stern. As any student of English is aware, English is a very complicated language to say the least. (462)

Titles for Teachers
02/08/18

In all languages, those who are given the responsibility of instructing others, who are recognized as teachers, are given respected titles. In Japanese, the title is "sensei," composed of two Chinese characters meaning "born before." Obviously, a teacher was "born before" the one being taught. This title is not only used for teachers; it is also used for doctors, lawyers and other respected "elders." In recent years, to my bewilderment, it is used even for politicians. In India, the title of respect, translated into English as "master" or "sir," is "sahib." Titles for religious teachers have various implications depending on the religion. "Ayatollah," meaning "divine sign" or "miracle" in Persian, is the title of an Islamic religious leader of the Shiite sect. The ordained spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation is a "rabbi," meaning "my master." The most critical words of Jesus (recorded in the 23rd chapter of the Gospel of Matthew) were not related to irreligious lawbreakers but to hypocritical religious leaders who loved "to have men call them 'Rabbi.'" Jesus instructed his disciples that they should not be called "Rabbi" for they have only one Master and they are brothers. Nor should they call anyone "Father" or "Teacher" for they have but one Father, who is in heaven, and only one Teacher, who is the Christ. He taught that "the greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (verses 7-12). The most effective teacher is not one who glories in a title, but one who humbly seeks to be a means of help to others. (466)

Ice Cream Social
02/08/21

There are many activities in this retirement community throughout the year for residents to participate in. Some are intellectually stimulating, such as book reviews, lectures or study groups. Others appeal to those with particular interests such as painting, weaving, working with wood, ceramics or stained glass. There are groups for residents with special talents related to vocal or instrumental music, drama or writing. Sports include shuffleboard, golf and tennis. Some events aim simply to provide opportunities for social contact and fellowship. Such informal gatherings may be called "socials." During the summer, when many residents travel, there are fewer specialized activities, but there are monthly socials. Months ago, my wife was asked to organize the Ice Cream Social to be held in the meeting hall on August 14th. As the time drew near, she organized a committee to help in the planning and preparation. Over twenty tables and more than a hundred chairs had to be arranged beforehand to accommodate an uncertain number of attendees. As a member of the Clown Group, she asked the other five clowns to help decorate, greet the people wearing their clown costumes and present a few skits. Others were asked to serve the six different kinds of ice cream available at the serving table. Her husband was asked to serve as the leader. Afterward, the tables had to be removed, the decorations taken down and the chairs rearranged for an evening meeting. We are happy and relieved that all went well and that the more than one hundred who attended seemed to enjoy the program and the refreshments. (467)

Crows
02/08/23

We see many different kinds of birds in the trees and on the lawns of this retirement community. Among them are the large black birds called crows, which are not the most popular. Crows are about 19 inches, or 49 centimeters, long, but they have a wingspan of over 3 feet, or 92 centimeters. The sound they make is called a "caw," but when used as a verb, "crow" may mean either to make a shrill cry or to brag or boast. There are a number of expressions that include this word. "As the crow flies" means the shortest distance between two places, although it is questionable if a crow really flies in a straight line. "To eat crow" means to be forced into a humiliating situation, to admit you were mistaken or defeated. Wrinkles at the outside corner of the eye may be called "crow's feet" and a "crow's nest" is the small lookout platform near the top of the mast of a sailing ship from which a crew member may see far away. Crows are said to be the most intelligent of all birds. They are easily tamed and can learn to mimic some human sounds. Recently, a newspaper article appeared that related the surprising report of an ornithologist. Crows that saw food at the bottom of a glass tube picked up short pieces of wire and bent them into hooks in order to obtain the food. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that we should not worry about things, but trust our heavenly Father to provide our needs. "Look at the birds of the air," he said. "They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26). (465)

St. Louis
02/08/26

In my high school class, there were two boys who had the same surname, Robinson, and although their given names were also pronounced the same, they were spelled differently. One was spelled L-e-w-i-s and the other was spelled L-o-u-i-s. In our conversations, we sometimes spoke of "black-haired Lewey" or "brown-haired Louie." "Lewis" is the anglicized form of a French name that has a different pronunciation. The largest city in the state of Missouri, one of the main ports along the Mississippi River, is St. Louis, which has the French spelling but the English pronunciation. There were 18 kings of France named Louis. One of the greatest and best-loved was Louis IX, who is recognized as a "saint" in the Roman Catholic Church. He became king in 1226 at the age of 14, following the death of his father, Louis VIII. A man of great piety, renowned for his justice and charity, he also participated in the Crusades to recover the Holy Land from Muslims. He died in 1270 on August 25th, which was designated his feast day when he was officially proclaimed a "saint" 27 years later. Nowadays, a "saint" is considered an extremely virtuous person or one who has been canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, but in the New Testament, all believers in Christ were called "saints" as is evident in Acts 9:32 and in the greetings found in the first verses of Paul's letters to the churches in Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi and Colosse. The word "saint" is derived from a Greek word meaning "holy, separated for a divine purpose" and this should be characteristic of all disciples of Christ. (471)

Hamburger/Frankfurter/Hot Dog
02/08/28

A couple of the most common foods served at fast-food restaurants or at sports events are "hamburgers" and "frankfurters," or "hot dogs." Both of them include a certain kind of meat inserted in a bun. "Hamburgers" are round and flat while "frankfurters," or "hot dogs," are round and long. Can you imagine the origin of these words? "Hamburgers" and "frankfurters" are related to the German cities where they first appeared. "Hamburg steak," made of ground beef, was brought to the United States of America by German immigrants in the middle of the 19th century. When put in a bun, it was called a "hamburger." During the First World War, when things with German names were not popular, the "Hamburg steak" was renamed "Salisbury steak" in honor of an English dietitian who had created a nutritious meat patty. The smoked sausage of beef made in long, reddish links originated in Frankfurt and when placed in buns was called a "frankfurter." Smaller sausages made of beef and pork which came from the Austrian city of Vienna were called "wienerwurst" (Vienna sausage), which was later shortened to "wiener." But now, the more common name for either "frankfurters" or "wieners" is "hot dog." A hundred years ago, the frankfurters sold at the Polo Grounds in New York City were called "red hots." After a newspaper cartoonist drew a "red hot" in the shape of the long dachshund dog, which was first bred in Germany and had become a symbol for things German, the term "hot dog" became popular. Nowadays, "hot dog" is also used as an informal interjection to express satisfaction or enthusiasm. (468)

Knickknacks
02/08/30

There are 26 letters in the English alphabet, but some of them are used much more than others. In a dictionary of the English language, the shortest section is that of words beginning with the letter x. Other sections with few words are those beginning with y, z, q and k. The pronunciations of some consonants change when they are combined with certain other consonants. Note for example, the difference in pronunciation of words beginning with c, p and s if an h is inserted after the first letter. "Cat" becomes "chat," "pony" becomes "phony" and "sell' becomes "shell." In the case of a k followed by an n, however, the pronunciation of the k is completely eliminated, so the following words are pronounced the same: nap/knap, nave/knave, night/knight, nit/knit and not/knot. Which brings us to the subject of this message: "knickknacks." This word was formed from a reduplication of "knack," which may mean "a specific talent for doing something" or "a cleverly designed device." The definition of a "knickknack" is "a small, ornamental article." In the homes of many people who have traveled to foreign lands, there are places where knickknacks are displayed. In our house, we have shelves full of knickknacks. Most of them are from Japan, but others are from Europe and Africa as well as Latin America. Looking at these small articles stimulates memories of the places from which they were brought and of the situation or conditions which they symbolize. Although for Christians, the symbol of the cross would not be considered a knickknack, viewing it does stimulate deep and meaningful thought. (469)