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Hurricane Katrina
Labor Day Weekend
Genes/Jeans
Blameworthy
Sounds
The PET Shop
Walking
An Enjoyable Tour
Philippians

Typhoons that occur in Asia are designated by numbers while hurricanes that arise in the Atlantic Ocean are given names of men and women. The names are listed in alphabetical order and alternate between male and female. There are six such lists of 21 hurricane names. The list being used for this year of 2005, which began with Arlene, has now reached the middle of the list with one of the most destructive storms in American history named Katrina. Katrina is one of a number of names derived from Catherine, a name found in the list of saints in the Roman Catholic Church as well as in the roster of rulers or monarchs of such countries as Russia, France and England. As a result of the wind and waves that struck the below-sea-level city of New Orleans, a major seaport, business, industrial and recreational center, levees, which were constructed to protect the city, broke and the city was inundated. Thousands of lives were lost; thousands of homes along with their contents were destroyed. Residents were without electric power, food and drinking water. Roads and bridges became impassable. People stranded on the roofs of their houses were rescued by helicopters. Over 25,000 residents were temporarily housed in a huge domed athletic stadium and then transferred by hundreds of buses to a larger, more comfortable stadium 560 kilometers away. It is expected that it will take months and years for the city and surrounding area to be restored and some residents have stated that they will not return to that city. Although such a natural disaster is sometimes called an “act of God,” it does not seem related to an act of the God I believe is revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus, the Christ.(891)

Labor Day Weekend
05/09/06

Although “weekend” literally means the end of a week, it denotes the period between Friday evening and Sunday evening, so a “weekend” includes the beginning of a new week as well as the end of an old one. Labor Day Weekend, however, extends for a day longer because it includes the holiday, called Labor Day, celebrated on the first Monday of September. When I was young, Labor Day marked the end of our summer vacation, for a new school year began after Labor Day, but now, schools begin earlier. Labor Day has been observed since 1882 to honor working people. That day was chosen by Peter McGuire, founder of a labor organization for carpenters, for “it would come at the most pleasant season of the year, nearly midway between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving, and would fill a wide gap in the chronology of legal holidays.” The purpose of the special day was not only to honor workers but also to bring their pitiful situation (low pay, long hours, despicable working conditions) to the attention of the general public. On that day, labor unions commemorate the many good effects produced by union activities as well as noting both the beneficial results produced by laborers and their continuing needs. In Luke 10:7, we find Jesus’ words that “the worker deserves his wages.” On Labor Day, parades, concerts and other festivities are held. In my hometown of Zion, Illinois, the 60th Class Reunion of the 1945 graduating class of the community high school was held, but I decided not to make another 1800-kilometer trip to that distant town which I had visited on two different occasions during the past two months. However, I did send a newspaper article about my recent trip to Japan and wished them a happy time. (892)

Genes/Jeans
05/09/09

“Gene” and “jean” are homonyms, having the same pronunciation though they are spelled differently and have very different meanings. A “gene” is an element by which hereditary characters are transmitted from parents to their children. All of us were born with genes received from our parents, which may have a positive or negative influence in our lives. “Gene” is also a masculine name, a shortened form of “Eugene,” which is derived from a Greek adjective meaning “well-born;” a resident of this retirement community is named Gene. As a common noun, “jean,” derived from Genoa, denotes “a heavy, strong, twilled cotton, used in making uniforms and work clothes.” Blue colored pants made of jean, called “blue jeans,” have become very popular among young people in the U. S. A. Men also wear them when working. “Jean” is also a feminine name, which along with “Joan” and “Jane” was developed from the feminine form of “John.” Among the 500 residents in this community, there are 7 Jeans and 1 Jeanne, along with 4 Joans and 4 Janes. There are also 4 Junes, which are related to the name of the month. In Japan, names using Chinese characters have meaning and parents usually consider the meanings of names before giving them to their children. At times, the names have implications related to the time or hopes of the parents when the child was born and may influence the outlook of the child. My wife and I are both happy with the genes passed on from our parents, who were not aware of the meaning of the names they gave us. Our children’s names are all found in the Bible, but the spelling is different in two of them. (888)

Blameworthy
05/09/12

“Worth” usually denotes something having value, something desirable. It is used to refer to wealth or riches. To be “worthy” usually implies being admirable. In fact, “worship” is derived from this word and signifies sincere adoration. A person who is highly commendable may be said to be “praiseworthy.” However, the opposite of “praiseworthy” is a strange combination of terms that seem quite contradictory. “Blameworthy” signifies a person deserving blame. Following the hurricane that caused such a great disaster in a certain area of this country, resulting in the loss of lives, property, homes, possessions, schools, companies, etc., the focus of attention has been on why there was not better emergency preparations and why it took so long for help to be made available. Was it the local or state officials or the federal government that was “blameworthy”? All of the individuals, organizations or government officials involved have their particular perspective in regard to the situation and what was or was not done and when and why or why not. Each person or organization involved tends to justify their response, but we are reminded of the sign that was on the desk of President Harry Truman, who recognized that, as president, he was finally responsible for both the praise and blame of federal actions. On the sign it was written: “The Buck Stops Here.” In the game of poker, the “buck” is a marker placed in front of the player who is to deal the next hand. “Passing the buck,” meant shifting responsibility to another person, but the sign on President Truman’s desk indicated that he accepted the final responsibility for the decisions made and the actions taken by federal government officials and agencies. (894)

Sounds
05/09/16

There are a number of different meanings of “sound.” We hear many different kinds of “sounds” with our ears. Some are musical, whether produced by pianos, harps, other musical instruments or birds. Other are scary, whether produced by the collapse of a building, an airplane crash or an angry elephant. At times it would be convenient if we could close our ears just as we close our eyes, but an ancient Greek playwright wrote that sounds are what the blind “see.” Conversations, lectures and sermons are transmitted by the sounds produced by the vocal cords of the speakers. Those of us with “sound” ears that function well should be thankful. In this case, “sound” denotes something “free from defect, decay or damage; in good condition.” When we hear or read lectures or sermons related to religious, political or philosophical subjects, we should verify that they are based on “sound” reasoning. Another kind of “sound” is a long body of water connecting larger bodies of water. Such “sounds” are found in various parts of the world, but one which has been the cause of international controversy is the “Sound” which connects a strait of the North Sea with the Baltic Sea and separates Denmark and Sweden. It is 70 kilometers long and at one point only 4 kilometers wide. Finally, a fourth kind of “sound” is a verb meaning to measure the depth of water. A person with a sound mind will sound the depth of a sound before permitting a large ship to enter it or one might hear the sound of the ship scraping on the land. According to the King James translation of II Timothy, chapter 1, verse 7, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (889)

The PET Shop
05/09/19

On the edge of the Penney Retirement Community, there is a building called the “PET Shop.” In it are many tools and materials that are not related to dogs, cats or other “pets.” In this case, the capital letters PET stand for “Personal Energy Transportation.” Everyday, there are a number of workers who voluntarily come to assist in the building of three-wheeled vehicles, made of wood with rubber tires that are powered by a hand crank. The vehicles are made for people who are unable to make use of their legs—whether due to land mines, accidents or disease. The driver is seated while rotating the handlebars attached to the chain connected to the front wheel. There is space behind the seat where some things may be carried. There are an estimated 22 million land mine victims around the world who have lost one or both legs due to land mines and thousands more who have lost their mobility due to other causes. Many of these people live in places without hard surfaces where a standard wheelchair cannot function. One of the originators of this vehicle, who had served as a missionary in Africa for many years where he realized the need for such a carrier, is now living in this retirement community and supervises the construction, packaging and sending of them to 56 countries around the world. Many testimonies have been received from men and women, boys and girls, whose lives have been changed because they have become able to transport themselves from place to place. This is a very practical way to show love and mercy to those in need. Further information is available on the Internet website: >www.petflorida.org<. (890)

Walking
05/09/22

Residents in this retirement community are in various stages of physical and mental alterations. In regard to mobility within the community itself—going to and from the post office or dining hall, the library, swimming pool or fitness center, the church or meeting hall—various means of transportation are used. Many people prefer to walk (if they are able to do so), but others use a bicycle, a tricycle, a golf cart or a car. We have been informed that walking is a very good form of exercise for older people and some residents go for a walk regularly. While sitting at my desk and typing this message, I am able to look through a window and see people walking on a sidewalk. It is interesting to notice how people walk. All pedestrians progress in a similar way, placing one foot in front of the other as they walk. But each walker has his or her own characteristic way of walking. Some walk briskly; others walk very slowly. Some walk with stiff, straight bodies while others are more relaxed. There are those who seem to walk with a bounce and others who shuffle along the way. Obviously, some people are on the way to a meeting that begins at a certain time, while others are simply strolling. The way one walks also depends on the kind of shoes one is wearing—whether tennis shoes, sneakers or shoes with high heels. The English novelist, Charles Dickens, wrote these words: “walk and be happy; walk and be healthy. The best way to lengthen out our days is to walk steadily and with a purpose.” And the German philosopher and poet, Friedrich Nietzsche, who denounced all religion, wrote: “A sedentary life is the real sin against the Holy Spirit. Only those thoughts that come by walking have any value.” (893)

An Enjoyable Tour
05/09/26

The place where my wife and I now live is called a “retirement” community, but there seem to be very few residents here who have really “retired.” Even though most of them have left their church-related employment, they keep busy with volunteer service along with physically or mentally stimulating activities. At times, trips to other places are organized for those who are interested and can afford them. A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I joined 36 other residents to take a trip to Branson, Missouri, a small town that has become famous for the large number and variety of musical, dramatic, entertaining shows that are provided in over 70 different theaters scattered around the area. We went in the large bus provided by the company that sponsored the tour. To reach that town, we traveled in six states and spent two nights on the road, both going and returning. On the three days we spent in Branson, we attended amazing performances by a family of musicians, a comedian who came from Russia, a violinist who came from Japan and other musical groups, including one on a showboat on the water after we had enjoyed a delicious meal. Along the way to and from Branson, we stopped and walked around a pretty botanical garden in Alabama and visited the hometown of Elvis Presley in Mississippi. The show my wife and I enjoyed the most was that of the Japanese violinist, Shoji Tabuchi, whose superb musical ability was the apex of a stupendous performance that included other musicians and surprising theatrical productions. During the tour, we enjoyed the fellowship with other residents as well as the beautiful scenery along the way and the amazing abilities of the performers. (895)

Philippians
05/09/28

One of the books in the New Testament is called “Philippians” or “The Letter (or Epistle) of Paul to the Philippians.” In the Sunday morning class that my wife and I attend before the worship service, we studied this New Testament letter during the month of September. It was my responsibility to lead the class on the 4th Sunday of the month when we considered the 4th chapter. In my preparation, I was impressed by the similarity of the name of this book and that of an Asian country, the Republic of the Philippines, which I visited on numerous occasions during my years of service in Japan. Also, on one of our return trips to the U. S. A. from Japan, when we traveled around Europe in a camping car, we visited the remains of the city of Philippi. I was surprised to discover that both that ancient Macedonian city and the present Asian republic were named after a king known as Philip II. In the former case, Philip II of Macedon, named the city after himself in the year 356 B.C. In the later case, in 1542 A.D., a Spanish explorer named the islands for the infant who became Philip II, king of Spain. One of the surprising characteristics of the letter to the Christians in Philippi, who are called “saints” (1:1; 4:21), is the repeated emphasis upon joy and rejoicing, even though the letter was written by the Apostle Paul while he was “in chains” in Rome because of his faith (1:12-14). According to his testimony in this letter, he had “learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (4:12) and he encourages his readers to rejoice and experience inner peace through their trust in the Lord, who is always near. (4:4-7). (896)