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The Japanese word 'hato' may be translated into English as either "pigeon" or "dove" but these two words have quite a different nuance. As a slang term, "pigeon" denotes a person who is easily deceived. A "dove", on the other hand, symbolizes peace, innocence and gentleness. Both words are found in the English Bible, as translations of the same Hebrew word, but "dove" is preferred. Domesticated pigeons which have been trained to return to their home roost may be called homing pigeons. Some homing pigeons are also used in races. Recently, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, a pigeon race was held in which 60,000 pigeons took part. Pigeons were released from their cages in northern France and were expected to fly over the English Channel to Britain. About 1,000 pigeons refused to leave their cages, however, and another 10,000 pulled out of the race at the French coastline because of the cloudy weather. The birds were brought from England and Scotland on trucks and were expected to arrive at their destinations in about five hours. The winner was determined by dividing the distance flown by the flight time to calculate the average speed of the bird. -------At the National Church Conference meetings I attended in the Philippines in April, pastors and church members from the islands of Luzon, Leyte and Mindanao were present. Except for my three messages at the conference which were in English, both the official national language of Pilipino and the regional language of Cebuano were used by church leaders in their reports and messages. In keeping with the more relaxed atmosphere in that nation, most of the meetings began up to thirty minutes later than scheduled. At the conference, as at the churches I visited, no hymnbooks or printed sheets were used when singing. Rather, the words of the choruses were displayed on a screen through an overhead projector. Usually, the lively choruses were repeated many times, led by one or more song leaders with hand-held microphones accompanied by a musical ensemble consisting of electric guitars, drums and a synthesizer. The conference was held on the campus of a Christian college and delegates from out of town were housed in dormitories since the school was on vacation. Meals for the approximately 200 participants, prepared by church ladies always included rice, but it was of a different consistency than that in Japan. -------Today is the final day of the Grand Sumou Tournament being held in Nagoya. An older way of writing "sumou" in Japanese used the characters meaning "horn" (tsuno) and "power" (chikara). These two characters, pronounced chikara-kurabe, are used in the classical Japanese translation of Genesis 32:24-25 in the account of a strange wrestling match experienced by Jacob. Although this match is described in physical terms, it was basically a spiritual struggle between Jacob and God. All conscientious human beings experience such spiritual wrestling matches. Sometimes our wrestling is with God, sometimes with our own conscience, and at other times with other spiritual powers, as noted in Ephesians, chapter 6, where appropriate spiritual armor is described. But regardless of the kind of opponent, the determining factor in such spiritual wrestling is not the size of one's body nor one's physical strength but the character and quality of the person's faith and fortitude. The scandals and crimes reported daily in the news media show the need for spiritual strength to win the battle against evil. Christians find such strength in their relationship with God nurtured by the spiritual food they find in the Bible. -------If you did not know the word spelled b-e-l-f-r-y, you would probably pronounce it 'bel-fri', the first time you saw it, but the correct pronunciation is 'bel-fre'. And if you know the meaning of belfry, who would probably think the word is related to "bell", for a belfry is a tower in which there is a bell. In the United States, such towers were often attached to churches or schools and the bell was rung to inform people that a church meeting or school classes were about to begin. Actually, however, this word is derived from a German word meaning "protector of peace". The original belfry was a portable tower that was moved to the walls of medieval cities during a siege and from that siege tower attackers hurled missiles upon the city's defenders. -------There are a number of ethical problems at the present time that require serious consideration on the part of responsible, conscientious thinkers in both medical and religious professions. Among them are the removal of life support systems under certain conditions from people who are expected to die without them, euthanasia, the advisability of cloning human beings and the transplantation of organs from people who are brain dead. Needless to say, consideration of such problems should not be limited to professionals. The public at large also needs to be informed about the actual situation and possible implications of such measures. Have you given these matters much thought? Have you had personal experiences related to them? If you are interested and would like to write an essay giving your views on any one of the four topics suggested, I will be happy to correct it and print it in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes, expected to be on sale on August 31st. Writing an essay on one of these complicated themes will help to clarify your own thinking and nurture your English writing ability at the same time. Send essays to me at the following address: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama, Nagoya 463 Japan. -------
Two men in the New Testament bore the name "Lazarus". Can you identify either of them? One was the name of a beggar in a parable Jesus told in Luke, chapter 16. The other was a man Jesus raised from death, recorded in the 11th chapter of the Gospel of John. Lazarus was also the surname of an American poet and essayist who was born 148 years ago yesterday, on July 22,1849. Emma Lazarus wrote many poems and a poetic drama, but her best work, found in the book of poems, Songs of a Semite, published in 1882 was stimulated by her rage against the Russian persecution of Jews. Today, she is best-known for the poem she wrote about the Statue of Liberty which stands in New York harbor. Titled The New Colossus, this poem is engraved on a tablet within the pedestal on which the colossal statue stands. The poem closes with these words: There are many onomatopoetic words in Japanese that were coined to imitate certain sounds but are often used in ways completely unrelated to the sounds they supposedly imitate. One example is goro-goro, which, beside imitating certain sounds may denote being idle or doing nothing. In regard to the sounds it is meant to resemble, they are as widely varied as a loud peal of thunder, the gurgling sound made in one's throat, soft rumbling in one's stomach and the purring of a cat. Goro-goro may also be used to indicate the gobbling of a turkey, which brings me to a strange English word spelled g-o-b-b-l-e-d-y-g-o-o-k. "Gobbledygook" was coined to describe the "convoluted, pretentious, often meaningless language of bureaucracy". A Japanese dictionary gives the following translation: (kobunsho nado ni mirareru) mawari-kudoku wakari-nikui hyougen. Unfortunately, it is not only bureaucrats and politicians that use gobbledygook to avoid speaking clearly and precisely. Some religious officials do the same--sometimes inadvertently, not realizing that their specialized words are not understood by common people. To communicate the Gospel to all people, Christians consider it important for the Bible to be translated into the easy-to-understand vernacular. -------Darling, spelled D-a-r-l-i-n-g, is the name of the longest river in Australia. It flows for over 2,700 kilometers through the southeastern area of that country. Darling is also the surname of an American lady who founded a number of patriotic societies in the U. S. A., the most important of which is the Daughters of the American Revolution, which she co-founded with another lady in 1890. This society, commonly called the D. A. R., is open to women who have one or more ancestors who aided the cause of the American revolution. The D. A. R., which is well-known for its very conservative political views, has worked to preserve various historic sites in the United States. As a common noun, "darling" denotes a much loved person and as an adjective it means "beloved". The given name of the Darling noted above was Flora, which comes from the Latin word for "flower", and she was born 157 years ago today on July 25, 1840. Her name attracted my attention because I have a sister named Flora. Since she is an older sister, I don't recall ever calling her "Flora darling", but my parents may have done so because she is a darling, although her husband usually calls her simply "Flo". -------While in the Philippines, I regularly walked the short distance from my guest house to the dining hall every morning for breakfast and sometimes for other meals as well. Often, I was the only guest, so I ate by myself, but for the first few days another young couple also ate there. They were Americans who were living and teaching English in Singapore. We shared a few stories about our work in our respective lands and I gave them information about this "Daily Word" telephone service which is also available on the Internet. They seemed interested and, who knows, they may be reading this very message. Every morning before breakfast, I spent a few minutes reading an English language newspaper which was available in the dining hall. I was interested to read about what was happening in Manila and other areas of the Philippines, and enjoyed some of the regular columnists, but I was a bit disappointed that there was comparatively little news of other countries. A couple of times, I stopped to look at television in the lounge adjoining the dining hall, but there were few programs in English, so I preferred to spend my time reading the books I had brought with me. -------The New Testament begins with four Gospels related to the life and teaching of Jesus Christ followed by a narrative of various important activities, or acts, of his apostles. The next 21 books are letters, most of which were written by apostles. Nine of those letters were written to particular churches and are related to the particular problems or circumstances faced by those churches at that time but they contain important teachings that are applicable to all Christians in every age. Often, the closing section of such letters contain brief, general exhortations that are not limited to a particular time or place. For example, in I Corinthians 16, verses 13-14, we find these words, as given in a modern translation: "Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong. Do all your work in love." The encouragement to be attentive, steadfast, courageous and tough could apply to soldiers as well as to Christian believers, but the added exhortation to do everything in a spirit of love gives them a special flavor. Along with the more robust virtues, love should be the underlying motive for all acts. It is the kind of love that Jesus himself manifested and which he said, in John 13: 34-35, would be the sign that people were his disciples. -------Are you acquainted with the expression "primrose path"? Like many English sayings, this one comes from William Shakespeare. In Hamlet, Ophelia rejects her brother's advice with a negative comment about pastors who speak of the "steep and thorny way to heaven " while they themselves tread "the primrose path of dalliance ". "Dalliance" denotes wasting time or spending time frivolously, so a "primrose path" signified a way of self-indulgence and pleasure. A primrose is a flower, but it was mistakenly given a name literally meaning "first rose", for it is not a rose and is not the first flower of spring. There are many varieties of primrose, or "sakuraso," "cherry blossom grass" in Japanese. Primroses produce tubular flowers of various colors that have five lobes. -------On July 29, 1957, 40 years ago today, the International Atomic Energy Agency was established under the sponsorship of the United Nations. The aim of this intergovernmental organization with headquarters in Vienna, is to promote the safe and peaceful uses of atomic energy. It is authorized to purchase and sell fissionable materials and to offer technical assistance for the peaceful application of nuclear energy. Since atomic power was first utilized in the production of devastating bombs that were dropped on two Japanese cities in 1945, the problem of what use to make of this awesome source of energy has become an international problem. What are your thoughts regarding atomic energy which is widely used in Japan? Do you think Japan relies too much on atomic power? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using atomic power? What other sources of energy would be preferable and why? Would you oppose having an atomic power plant built in your area--or a plant to dispose of radioactive materials? If you wish to write an essay on this theme and send it to me, I will correct it and print it in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama, Nagoya 463 Japan. -------Today is a national holiday in the Republic of Vanuatu. Do you know where that country is located? Vanuatu, which is celebrating the 17th anniversary of its independence today, is not in Africa nor on the Eurasian continent. Nor is it in either North or South America. Before its independence it was known as the New Hebrides, which raises the question of where the "old" Hebrides are located. The Hebrides is the name of a group of over 500 islands in the North Atlantic Ocean just west of Scotland. New Hebrides was the name given to a 728-kilometer-long chain of 80 islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia, by a European explorer. Until July 30, 1980, these islands were jointly ruled by France and Great Britain, but a new name was chosen when they were granted independence. Vanuatu may be included in various geographical divisions, including Australasia, Oceania and Melanesia. There are now about 180,000 inhabitants of Vanuatu, but before the islands were placed under Anglo-French control, many native islanders were kidnapped and taken to Australia to work on the sugar and cotton plantations there. How sad it is when the basic rights of human beings are violated, usually for base reasons. -------In the Roman Catholic Church calendar of feast days for those it has given the designation "saints", today, July 31st, is the feast day of one of the three saints called Ignatius. The first Saint Ignatius was the bishop of Antioch who became a martyr at the beginning of the second century. The second Saint Ignatius was a 9th century patriarch of Constantinople. The third Saint Ignatius, whose feast day is today, is Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits. Born into a noble family in Spain in 1491, he was raised in aristocratic surroundings which he left to enter the army. During his convalesence following a serious injury, he read a book on the life of Christ and his life was changed. He resolved to become a knight of Christ and hoped to go to the Holy Land to convert Muslims. Following his ordination to the priesthood, the society he founded was formally recognized by the pope and, in 1539, he became its first general. Since that time, the Jesuits have been recognized for their educational and missionary activities. throughout the world. Francis Xavier, one of the original members, was the first Christian missionary to Japan. The motto of the Jesuits, "to the greater glory of God" is a suitable one for all Christians. -------In Japan, along with the problem of an aging population, is the additional problem of young people leaving rural areas for the cities. Men who stay in the countryside are mostly first sons who feel obligated to maintain the family farm. But they face another problem: finding a mate who is willing to endure the difficult life of a wife, mother, daughter-in-law and worker in an isolated country area. Needless to say, most young women prefer life in the city. In the mountain village of Tozawa in Yamagata Prefecture, 300 kilometers north of Tokyo, there are three unmarried men for every single woman. A decade ago, the local government began looking for suitable brides from other Asian countries to help sustain the life of the village. As a result, the number of international marriages has risen year by year. Some brides are disappointed to find how different life in the country is from that in the city. They must also face the problems of adapting to the different culture of a conservative, rural community complicated by communication problems. Not surprisingly, some of these marriages end in divorce, but the stoic, adaptable and conscientious wives that endure have introduced an international flavor to the countryside. -------While in the Philippines, the common means of public transportation I used was a jeepney. A jeepney resembles the military vehicle called a jeep, but it is larger and not as rugged. Jeepneys have a front windshield and a roof, but there are no doors or other windows. On the front seat, there is space for two passengers to sit alongside the driver. In the back part of a jeepney, there is a long seat along each side on which passengers sit, facing each other. Passengers enter at the back and six or seven Filipino-sized passengers can sit on each of the seats. Of course, it is not possible to stand up for the roof is very low. Soon after a passenger enters, he or she pays the fare to the driver who can view the activity behind him through a long mirror above the windshield. The driver has an open box into which he puts the money and takes out change as needed. The driver is kept busy as he weaves through the crowded streets while keeping track of the entry and exit of passengers, receiving fares and making change, usually without turning his head back but only reaching back with one hand. At times, one or two passengers may ride outside, standing on the back step, if all seats are taken inside. -------Japan is a land of many 'kami' and of many shrines, known as 'jinja' or 'jingu', in which the 'kami' are enshrined. Some shrines are large and famous and attract many sightseers. Others are small and very plain and are visited by very few worshippers. The usual English translation of 'kami' is "god" with a small "g", so the shrines may be considered the house of a god. The Bible teaches that there is only one God, spelled with a capital "G", and that this invisible God is the almighty Creator of the world. In the Old Testament, a temple, built by King Solomon, was considered the "house of God". But, in the King's prayer of dedication when that temple was completed, recorded in the 8th chapter of I Kings, he recognized that even that ornate and beautiful temple could not be the dwelling place of the one true and living God. If Christians today are asked where is the dwelling place of God, one simple answer is "heaven", but the New Testament contains another explanation of where God resides. In I Corinthians 3:16, we read: "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" The "house of God" is the heart of the believer. But If God's Spirit truly lives in us, it will be evident in our daily lives. -------In traditional Japanese society it is common to speak indirectly and to communicate meaning by subtle implications which include non-verbal signs. Especially, when making critical remarks, the more circuitous method of communication is preferred. Polite Americans also use less direct, softer expressions at such times. For example, instead of calling a person a "liar", they may use "prevaricator" spelled p-r-e-v-a-r-i-c-a-t-o-r, which is rooted in a Latin word meaning to go zig-zag, or to walk in a crooked manner. It was first used of farmers who plowed crooked ridges and then applied to men who gave crooked answers in court. Thus, a person who "bends the truth" may be called a "prevaricator", which is often a euphemism, or good-sounding word, for a "liar". -------Since Japan is an island country surrounded by the sea, it is natural that fish have become an important element in the Japanese diet. Many kinds of fish are available in fish markets and supermarkets. Some fish are used for the 'sashimi' raw fish slices in 'sushi'. It is interesting that, traditionally in Japan, the eating of fish meat was acceptable but the eating of the meat of four-footed animals was not. Whether the meat comes from a beast, a bird or a fish, however, a living creature is killed to provide food for human beings. The final theme suggested for an essay for the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes is: "Fish". Have you ever gone fishing? Do you like fish? Do you enjoy watching living fish as well as eating the meat of dead ones? You may write about any experiences or thoughts you have related to fish. I will correct essays sent to me and print them in the Echoes. In order for the Echoes to be available at our meeting of "Daily Word" fans on Sunday afternoon, August 31st, I must receive all essays by Saturday, August 16th. The meeting will be held at the Nagoya City Josei Kaikan, east of the Higashi Betsu-in subway station. This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463, Japan. -------Have you ever had a lump in your throat? People with tender hearts often feel a lump in their throats for this expression denotes a strong emotion, especially of grief or sorrow, but also of gratefulness. Relatives or close friends attending the funeral of a loved one may feel a lump in their throats, but people attending a ceremony honoring a respected teacher may feel one also. "Lump in the throat" is a figurative expression, but actually human beings do have a kind of lump in their throats which is called an Adam's apple. This protuberance of cartilage in the front of the throat is especially obvious in men. In the creation story in the first chapters of Genesis, Adam was the name of the first man and he was forbidden to eat the fruit of a certain tree in the Garden of Eden. A fanciful explanation of the term "Adam's apple" is that when Adam disobeyed God's command, a piece of the forbidden fruit got stuck in his throat. The Bible does not indicate the kind of fruit that "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" produced, however, and the Hebrew word 'adam' literally means a human being. "Adam's apple" is rooted in a Hebrew expression that called that projection of cartilage the fruit, or apple, of a human being. -------One kind of stereotype is a fixed idea or belief about something or someone that is oversimplified and, consequently, inaccurate. In Japan, there are certain stereotypes that people hold regarding foreigners, but the stereotype is quite different depending on whether the foreigner is from the West or from Asia. I recently gave a lecture in a public hall of a city in suburban Nagoya. The title was: Aoi-me kara mita ima no Nihon no wakamono, "A Blue-eyed View of Young People in Japan These Days". At the beginning of the lecture I spoke of the danger of using stereotypes and made clear that, although I am a native-born American, I do not have blue eyes. Nor do I have white skin or a red beard, which has been used as an uncomplimentary term for a Westerner. Actually, my beard is much whiter than my skin. And on my Illinois Drivers License, my eye color is listed as "hazel". Hazel, or 'hashibami', is a shrub that bears hazelnuts. As an eye color, it may be considered a mixture of brown and blue. Having lived the major portion of my life in Japan, I consider my viewpoint a mixture of West and East. Thus, in my lectures or sermons, I present a "hazel-eyed" perspective and encourage listeners to discard their stereotypes. -------Regular listeners to or readers of these telephone messages know that the message for a particular day sometimes is related to a historical event that occurred on that day. That is the case with today's message, which concerns an event that took place 52 years ago today, on August 8, 1945. Were you alive at that time? If you were, can you recall where you were living or what you were doing? In my case, I had recently graduated from high school and was working as a common laborer for a construction company in the U. S. state of Illinois to earn money for my college education which would begin a month later. I have no recollection what I was doing on August 8th, but a perpetual calendar indicates that that day was a Wednesday that year. It was two days after the dropping of the atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima and the day that the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, after denouncing the neutrality pact it had signed four years earlier. Japan had already lost the war, so the Soviet declaration did not influence the outcome of the war, but it did result in its obtaining Japanese territory which Russia still occupies, which is the reason a formal peace treaty between the two countries has still not been signed. -------Last Saturday's message was related to the jeepneys used for public transportation in urban areas of the Philippines. Although there are regular stops where jeepneys pick up and discharge passengers, drivers seemed willing to respond to the hand signals of people anywhere along the street or highway and slow down or stop to let that person board. Likewise, when a passenger wanted to get off, a spoken word or a couple of taps on the roof would prompt the driver to slow down or stop to let that person off at any place. The jeepney fare was two pesos, or about ten yen, regardless of whether the passenger rode less then one kilometer or over ten. One time, when I was about to leave the FEBC compound to walk to the intersection where I planned to get on a jeepney, I realized that I had no coins and the smallest bill was a hundred-peso-bill. That was too much to give a jeepney driver, so I asked the receptionist at the office if she could change it. She could not, but a young man who heard my request kindly offered to give me a two-peso coin as a goodwill gesture to a foreigner. I was reluctant to take it, but then decided to give him a Japanese ten-yen coin in exchange and he was very happy to receive it. -------Popular preachers, teachers and lecturers often make use of interesting stories or illustrations to clarify or illustrate theoretical truths. Jesus frequently told such stories, called parables, to make his teaching easier to understand. The 15th chapter of the Gospel of Luke contains three parables, told in response to the criticism of religious leaders that Jesus associated with blatant sinners. To explain his reason for doing so, Jesus told these stories, in each of which the joy of finding what had been lost was emphasized. In the first parable, one sheep in a flock of a hundred was lost. In the second, one out of ten silver coins was lost. In the third, most famous parable, one of two sons left home and lived a profligate life, but later returned home to his loving father. This parable of the Prodigal Son is longer and more detailed than those of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. And because it focuses on the personal relationship of a father and his sons, it provides a clearer picture of the spiritual situation of sinful, selfish human beings in relation to a loving, father-like God. It was to show in a very practical way God's love for the lost that Jesus associated with those the religious leaders considered despicable sinners. -------The huge statue with the head of a man and body of a lion sculptured out of natural rock near Cairo, Egypt is called the Sphinx. In ancient Egypt, there were thousands of such statues which represented a mythical beast, but some of them had the heads of rams or hawks instead of men. In Greek mythology, the Sphinx was a winged monster with the head of a woman and the body of a lion which posed riddles of people and killed those who could not solve them. One of its riddles was: "What walks on four feet in the morning, on two at noon, and on three in the evening?" After the correct answer was given ("Man crawls as a baby, walks upright in the prime of life and uses a staff in old age"), the Sphinx killed herself. In English, "sphinx" may also denote a mysterious person. -------You may find it difficult to understand the statement that "one should not grouse while eating grouse". In that sentence, "grouse", spelled g-r-o-u-s-e, appears twice, but, in fact, they are two completely different words that are spelled and pronounced the same but have different, unrelated meanings. In informal English, "grouse" means to grumble or complain and that is the meaning of the first "grouse" in the statement, which advises people not to grumble while eating. A person who often complains or grumbles, not only while eating but at other times also, may be called a "grouch". The other "grouse" in the sentence denotes a particular kind of bird. In Japanese, it is called 'raicho', which literally means "thunderbird". Grouse live on the ground and, like partridges and pheasants are considered game birds, which does not mean that the birds play games. It means they are hunted for food or sport. Grouse feed on insects, berries, seeds, buds and leaves and their feathers may have a variety of colors. This 12th day of August is the opening of the grouse shooting season in Britain. It is observed with particular gaiety in Scotland, where it is called the Glorious Twelfth. And it is remembered by Scots in other countries as well. -------In his meaningful poem, Mending Wall, the American poet, Robert Frost, wrote: "Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That wants it down!" Written in 1914, the poem depicts contrasting views of neighborly relations of two New England farmers on adjacent fields. But the quotation could be used to apply to a different kind of wall that was begun 36 years ago today, on August 13, 1961, after East Germany closed the gate that connected East and West Berlin to stop the exodus of its citizens to the West. The subsequent fortified concrete and wire barrier, 47 kilometers long, separated East and West Berlin. For the next 28 years people on both sides of that wall wanted it to come down, which happened in 1990. Less than two years after the wall was erected, on our way back to the U. S. from Japan, I drove our camping car through the checkpoint and into East Berlin with my family. We remained on the east side of the wall for some three hours, during which we joined the crowd in the plaza in front of the Town Hall to listen to the speech of Russian Prime Minister Khruschev. The speech in Russian was translated into German and a kind German man next to us relayed the gist of it to us in English. -------Today's message provides information for new listeners or readers in particular. Copies of these daily messages are mailed out weekly to those who request them before they are spoken on the telephone. The messages may also be read on NTT's CAPTAIN system, NIFTY-Serve and the Internet. Sunday messages are Bible-related. Monday messages, spoken a little slower are usually related to the meaning of words or expressions. I often suggest a theme for an essay in Tuesday messages. I correct those sent to me and print them in our periodical "Daily Word" Echoes, which is available at meetings held on the 5th Sunday of a month. Our next meeting will be on August 31st at 1:30 at the Nagoya City Josei Kaikan, east of Higashi Betsuin subway station and you are invited to attend. The theme for that meeting is: "'Daily Word' and I". Saturday messages are related to my personal experiences. Following the present series related to my trip to the Philippines, I will tell of our experiences in Thailand. Following each daily message I usually add a short comment about what I or my family members did the day before. For further information, write to the following address: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30 Moriyama, Nagoya 463, Japan. -------As you know, Japanese and Chinese have a tradition of considering certain days, hours, directions and numbers as being either lucky or unlucky. It seems that this is so, not only among the common people, but among certain sportsmen, businessmen and politicians as well. On the day my wife and I left Thailand, I read an interesting article in 'The Nation', one of Thailand's leading newspapers, while we were on the airplane. A Constitution Drafting Assembly has been at work drafting a new constitution for a long time and the third and final reading of that new constitution is scheduled to begin today, Friday, the 15th. Friday is considered an auspicious day in Thai tradition and the number 15 is considered especially propitious when combined with the number 336, which is the number of articles in the constitution draft. In fact it took a special effort on the part of the committee to ensure that the number of articles equaled that lucky number. Earlier, the committee had decided to remove one article which reduced the number to a less auspicious 335. To bring the number back to 336, one article was divided into two. The committee hopes that the lucky numbers on a lucky day will ensure the passage of the new constitution. -------Beside the jeepneys described in last Saturday's message, public transportation available in the Metro-Manila area include carriages in which one or two persons may sit pulled by a horse or a bicyclist, small sidecars attached to a motorcycle or a bicycle, buses and taxis. But there is also one elevated monorail that runs from the northern suburb of Caloocan through the downtown area of Manila. I rode on that train twice during my ten-day visit. Since the station at the northern end of the monorail is connected to a large department store, I first did some shopping at that store and then went directly to the station. I discovered, however, that the part of the station connected to the store was only an exit for passengers who have just disembarked. There was no direct connecting passageway from the exit to the entrance, so I had to go down a stairway to the first floor, cross a busy street and go up the stairway on the opposite side to purchase a ticket and wait for the next train. I noticed that all stations along the monorail likewise had no direct connecting link between the opposite sides, so one must make sure the stairs he or she is climbing to the station leads to trains going in the desired direction. -------Because the infinite, eternal God of the Bible is spirit and cannot be seen by physical eyes, we are unable to describe God in a formal way. One of the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus, chapter 20, prohibits the making of an image of God and of worshipping such an idol. Though we cannot visualize God, we know certain qualities or characteristics of God which have been revealed in the Bible. And there are many physical symbolic words used to describe God's character, the most common of which is "Father". But in Psalm 27:1, the poet uses three significant descriptions of God which helped him overcome his fears. Today also, there are many things to fear--both natural disasters and human-caused accidents or simple miscalculations with dire consequences. The psalmist called the Lord his light, his salvation and his stronghold, or fortress. Darkness causes fear not only in the hearts of children. Spiritual darkness regarding perplexing problems of life instills fear in the hearts of adults as well. How are we to be saved from our troubles and where can we find refuge from our enemies? The psalmist found the answer in his faith in the Lord, his light, salvation and fortress. And so do sincere believers today. -------In modern English, the word "quiz", usually means a short oral or written test, but it has also denoted a practical joke and a queer or eccentric person. It may be derived from a Latin word meaning "who", but there is an interesting story that it originated in Ireland around 1780 as the result of a bet made by a theater manager that he could introduce a new word into the English language within twenty-four hours. That evening, he hired many small boys, provided them with chalk and told them to write "Q-U-I-Z" on the walls and billboards in downtown Dublin. The next morning, people saw the strange word everywhere and began to talk about it. Thus, this word entered the English language and James Daly won his bet, even though the meaning of the word was unclear. -------In both Greek and English, the word "cosmos" denotes the universe as an orderly, harmonious whole, but the Greek word may signify other orderly and beautiful items, including the ornaments or adornments used by women to make them appear more beautiful. In the New Testament book of I Peter 3:3, it is used with this meaning in a passage that teaches that true beauty is an inner quality. In fact, it is from this word that the word "cosmetics" was derived. At cosmetic counters, many varieties of perfumes are available. The word "perfume" is rooted in a Latin word for "smoke" for the first perfumes were scented smoke from the fragrant logs used as firewood when bodies of the dead were burned at funerals in ancient times to conceal the smell of burning flesh. One of the most famous perfumes these days is Chanel No. 5 which is named after the French fashion designer, Gabrielle Chanel, who was born 114 years ago today, on August 19, 1883, in the south part of France. Also known as Coco Chanel, she opened a store in Paris in 1920 to sell hats and sweaters she had designed. Later, gowns and other kinds of clothes were added and, later still, her accessories and perfumes also became popular. -------American school children may remember which months have thirty days by memorizing a short verse dating from the 16th century that begins with these words: "Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November". "Hath", of course, is the old English word for "has". Japanese children have a different method of recalling months that do not have 31 days by thinking of a "warrior facing west". The first four sounds in the expression nishi-muku samurai are also the sounds of the numbers 2, 4, 6, and 9 and the Chinese character for samurai is composed of the characters for 11; the months related to those numbers do not have 31 days. Anyway, this 8th month "hath" 31 days and the 31st day falls on a Sunday this year. It is our custom to hold a meeting of fans of this "Daily Word" telephone service on the 5th Sunday of a month and the August 31st meeting will be held at the Nagoya City Josei Kaikan in Naka-ku, east of the Higashi Betsu-in subway station beginning at 1:30. The theme for the meeting is: "Daily Word and I" and we would be happy to meet you there and to hear your comments about this telephone service. My wife and I are looking forward to seeing and talking to listeners to/readers of these messages. -------Today, August 21st, is the 119th anniversary of the founding of the American Bar Association. Can you guess what kind of an organization that is? It is not related to managers of bars where drinks or snacks are served. There are many different meanings included in the simple word "bar", spelled b-a-r. Among them are: a long, straight piece of solid material, an obstacle or barrier, a counter where drinks are served, the railing in a courtroom behind which the judges and lawyers sit, the court itself, and lawyers or the legal profession. The American Bar Association is a voluntary organization of lawyers who have been admitted to the bar of any state. It was founded in Saratoga, New York in 1878. The aim of the organization is to promote high professional standards and improved judicial administration. Its committees consider such topics as legal education, professional ethics and legal aid to the poor. In autocratic societies, laws may be decided by a ruler, or autocrat, but in democratic societies, laws are determined by the people. But just as the so-called "laws of nature" are applicable everywhere, so there is a moral or divine law which all human beings are expected to obey. -------One of the reference books I occasionally consult before composing a message relating to a particular day is a small volume given to me years ago by an Asahi Shinbun reporter who had interviewed me regarding this "Daily Word" telephone service. Published by Asahi Shinbun-sha, it is entitled Kyo wa Donna Hi? One of the entries listed under this August 22nd date attracted my interest because my wife and I often watch the weather report on television and one of the two telephone numbers my wife regularly calls before retiring at night is 177. (The other is 794-6422.) According to that book, it was on August 22 in the 20th year of Sha that weather forecasting began to be reported again on the radio following three years and eight months during which such reports were kept under a veil of secrecy. You probably know what year Showa 20 was, but I had to look it up. It was 1945, the year the Pacific War ended. Until I read that entry, I did not know that there was a blackout of such broadcasting during the war. One of the benefits of peace in a democratic society is the free flow of information and important information affecting the daily lives of all citizens should be made available to them. -------The Philippine capital of Manila is a modern city in some ways. It has modern office buildings, hotels and department stores. But just a bit removed from the downtown area, one may find unpaved streets, poor, ramshackle houses and temporary street-side shops with poles upholding canvas roofs. Though such sights may be seen in other South Asian countries as well, my overall impression of the Philippines was that it is still very poor. I saw a number of walls made of concrete blocks, which appeared to be old and dilapidated, but I was surprised to see the new concrete blocks used by some construction workers. They were not the smooth, straight-sided blocks like those in Japan. Even though they were new, they were crooked and didn't look very strong. I was also surprised to see the kind of spring that was used for the large metal gate I often went through on the way from my lodging place to the school where our church conference was held. It was not a metal spring that kept the gate closed. Rather, an old bicycle inner tube had been cut and tied to the gate and the gate post to serve as the makeshift spring. Filipinos are less reserved and friendlier than Japanese, but they are also much poorer. -------Sumimasen is an expression often heard in Japan. It may be translated into English in various ways, but probably the most common translation is the simple sentence "I am sorry". Conscientious parents and teachers sometimes force children to say these words after a child did something wrong that caused trouble to others. But it is not only children who find it difficult to say "I am sorry". Proud adults also are reluctant to humbly admit their faults or mistakes and to seek forgiveness. The Bible teaches that pride is a (or the) basic sin of human beings. Such pride is evident not only in human relationships but primarily in our relationship with God, our Creator and Lord. Jesus' most severe criticism was not directed against blatant sinners who recognized their sinfulness, but against proud, self-righteous, religious people who refused to recognize their arrogance and repent. According to the Bible, to find peace of mind and a satisfying relationship with God and others, one must humbly recognize one's weakness, or sin, and repent. In the First Letter of John, chapter 1, we are told that if we claim to be sinless, we deceive ourselves, but if we confess our sins, God will both forgive us and purify us. -------There are many different meanings of the word "draw", spelled d-r-a-w. One kind of drawing is a sketch made with a pencil or pen. A person who draws may be called a "drawer", but this word is also used for a sliding box-like compartment in a desk or chest. And what do you suppose people do in a "drawing room"? Do you think artists go there to draw? Since modern Japanese houses are small, very few of them have a drawing room. In fact, very few modern American homes have a room with this name, either. Nowadays, it is more often called a parlor, living room, or reception room. But, originally, a drawing room was a "withdrawing room" to which women withdrew after dinner so the men could keep on drinking, smoking and engaging in masculine banter. -------Literally, a minister is a person who ministers to the needs of others. One kind of minister is a clergyman, but in both the British and Japanese parliamentary systems, there are government ministers who administer, or manage, the affairs of certain departments. The chief administrator in such a cabinet is called the prime minister. The man who is generally recognized as the first prime minister of Great Britain was born 321 years ago today, on August 26, 1676. Sir Robert Walpole became head of an administrative cabinet in 1721 during a turbulent time in British history and served as the chief administrator with the approval of the king for 21 years. It was this man who made the cynical statement: "Every man has his price." A Massachusetts town near Boston was named after him. Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30, we will hold another meeting of listeners to/readers of these telephone messages at the Nagoya City Josei Kaikan in Naka-ku, east of the Higashi Betsu-in subway station. The theme for the meeting is: "'Daily Word' and I". My wife and I are looking forward to meeting many "Daily Word" fans there and to hear how they are making use of this telephone service. You are invited to attend. -------97/08/27 (Wednesday) Spreading Bacteria with Chopsticks (5740) It is customary for Chinese, Koreans and Japanese to use two slender sticks, called "chopsticks" in English, to eat their meals. In the case of some dishes, especially in Chinese cooking, many different diners use their own chopsticks to take food from a common central dish. Recent research conducted in Australia indicated that this custom may be the cause of spreading a certain kind of bacterium that causes ulcers. In a study of 328 Chinese men and women born outside of Australia, 60 percent of them were infected with this bacterium, which was twice the rate found among Caucasian Australians. Dr. Tony Chow, of a medical center in Melbourne, suggested that the bacteria are spread when people eat out of a shared bowl of food, spreading saliva from their mouths to the food and each other with chopsticks. He also found that infection rates were higher in regions where there was a higher use of chopsticks and that particular strains of the bacterium were found infecting family members. He recommended that individual meals be ordered at restaurants and that at banquets, serving utensils be used rather than individuals using their own chopsticks when taking food out of the common bowl. -------The Japanese katakana syllabary is very convenient when used for the names of foreigners, for the katakana pronunciation is usually very close to that of the name in the original language. But the spelling of the foreign name is often unclear. Take, for example, the name of the German poet, dramatist, novelist, philosopher, statesman and scientist who was born 248 years ago today, on August 28, 1749. You will probably know his name if I mention that he was the author of Faust, which has been translated into all of the major languages of the world. His name, using katakana syllables, is Ge-te, but do you know how to spell that name? It is spelled G-o-e-t-h-e. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe lived a remarkable life which was characterized by many romantic attachments with various women. The appraisal of Thomas Carlyle, the Scottish essayist and historian, was that Goethe was "the greatest genius who has lived for a century, and the greatest ass who has lived for three". A couple of memorable quotations from Faust are the following: "Deny yourself! You must deny yourself! That is the song that never ends." "The deed is all, and not the glory." It is said that his final words at death were: "More light!" -------A poll was conducted by the Tokyo Mutual Life Insurance Company through newspapers and magazines from April to June of this year. The single question was: "If you had one extra hour a day how would you spend it?" No choice of answers was given, so respondents were free to provide their own individual replies. If you were asked this question, how would you reply? Of about 1,550 valid responses, 19 percent said they would spend the extra time at rest in bed, 12 percent responded that they would spend it reading a book and 3.6 percent would spend it on hobbies. It seems that many Japanese are tired these days because of overtime work or heavy housework and child-raising responsibilities. According to the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verse 11 or 12, "the sleep of a laborer is sweet." Next Sunday afternoon at 1:30, we will hold another meeting of listeners to / readers of these telephone messages at the Nagoya City Josei Kaikan in Naka-ku, east of the Higashi Betsu-in subway station. The theme for the meeting is: "'Daily Word' and I". My wife and I are looking forward to meeting many "Daily Word" fans there and to hear how they are making use of this telephone service. You are invited to attend. -------While staying in Metro Manila, I went by the monorail to the park in downtown Manila, known both as Luneta Park and Rizal Park. In it there is a statue of Jose Rizal, the father of Philippine independence. I paid to enter the Japanese Garden there, but I was disappointed to find that it was not well cared for. I also visited an open-air tearoom that was operated by deaf persons who communicated by sign language. In the central area of the long, narrow park, there was a large rectangular pond with forms in it that represented the Philippine Islands, including the topography, or physical features, of the main islands. While walking around this panoramic map, a man approached me and began asking me questions. When he discovered I was a Protestant pastor, he indicated he had some problems and would like to receive counseling. It seemed obvious to me from his attitude, however, that his final objective was not to receive counseling but to receive some money, so I suggested that he speak with a native pastor who would be better able to understand his problems and offer more relevant advice than I, a transient stranger, could do. Of course, only God can see into a person's heart, but I doubted his integrity. -------All religions have certain rituals or ceremonies which adherents are expected to perform. From my "hazel-eyed" perspective, performing rituals is important in Japanese society as a whole and in Japanese religions in particular. In some religions, the observance of rituals is considered meritorious and the worshipper expects to gain benefit as a result of performing them. Certain Old Testament prophets made clear, however, that it was not ritualistic observances that God required but a vital faith that is evident in daily life. One example of this teaching is found in the 7th chapter of the book of Zechariah. There, the question is raised whether keeping such ceremonies as fasting and feasting at certain times was done to please God or simply for the people themselves. He then made clear what God really required: "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other." Jesus made the same point in his response to religionists of his day who stressed ritualistic observances when he quoted the prophet Hosea, who taught that God desires "mercy, not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:13). -------In Japan, this first day of September is called Bousai no Hi. Do you know how to say that in English? It is "Disaster Prevention Day". Seventy-four years ago today, the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred, resulting in over 100,000 deaths in the Tokyo-Yokohama area. Some disasters could have been prevented, like the World War which began 58 years ago today when Adolf Hitler ordered the German army to invade Poland. The word "prevent" is derived from a Latin word meaning to "precede" and that was its original meaning in English also. Thus, in the classical English version of the Bible, the word "prevent" in I Thessalonians 4:15, is replaced by "precede" in modern translations. One reason for new translations of the Bible is that language continues to change. -------One result of Japanese society becoming more democratic may be seen in a subtle change in language used by young people in particular. For better or for worse, many young people are not using the polite forms of words or are using them incorrectly. It is also said that sales people often use excessively polite forms when speaking to a customer in order to secure a sale. This may be good for business, but it is a misuse of traditional language. Now, a panel of fifteen experts is studying the present situation related to polite language and will report to the prime minister this fall. Some educators advise discarding polite or humble language forms altogether. What do you think about this problem? Do you think polite forms should be continued in the future? Will they be continued? Why are young people not using such forms correctly? Is your use of polite language different from that of your parents? From that of youth today? What do you consider the pros and cons of polite language forms? If you wish to compose a short essay on this theme and send it to me, I will correct it and print it in the next issue of"Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. -------One of the major cities of Europe with a long history as a cultural and political center is the capital of France, which is called Paris in English. It was a fishing village when it was conquered by Julius Caesar in 52 B. C. and its name is derived from a Gallic tribe called Parisii. Because of its importance and central location in Europe, it has often been the site of peace conferences. The famous Paris Peace Conference of 1919 which marked the official end of the First World War and the formation of the League of Nations, however, was actually held in the city of Versailles. But there have been at least six important peace treaties signed in Paris each of which is called the Treaty of Paris. Two of these treaties involved the United States. The Treaty of Paris of 1898 brought an end to the Spanish-American War, but in the more important Treaty of Paris which was signed 114 years ago today, on September 3, 1783, Great Britain formally recognized the independence of the U. S. A. Fighting between the rebels and the British forces had actually ended two years earlier. Over fifty years have passed since the end of the Second World War, but a peace treaty between Japan and one of its neighbors has still not been signed. -------Do you know where the Kremlin is located? Actually, there are many kremlins in Russia, for "kreml" is simply the Russian word for "citadel". Even as Japan has many castles, or "shiro ", so Russia has many citadels, or "toride", which are walled centers of a number of cities. The Kremlin in Moscow is triangular in shape and occupies 36.4 hectares of land. The Kremlin's walls, on which there are 20 towers, were built in the 15th century. Among the buildings in the Kremlin are three cathedrals and a 81-meter-high bell tower of Ivan the Great. On a pedestal adjoining the bell tower is the Czar Bell, the world's largest bell, 6.1 meters high and weighing 200 tons. The Kremlin was the residence of the czars until Peter the Great transferred the capital to St. Petersburg in 1712. Since 1918, when the capital was moved back to Moscow, the Kremlin has been the political and administrative center of Russia and the Russian Parliament is housed in the Grand Palace. During the visit of our family to the Kremlin 27 years ago, I was troubled with an upset stomach and begged a guard to permit me to go to a men's room in the Palace. He refused and I had to rush to a public latrine outside the Kremlin walls. Fortunately, I reached it in time. -------"James" is one of the most popular masculine names in English. It was the name of two of Jesus' apostles, one of his brothers, one of the books in the New Testament and a number of kings of Scotland and Great Britain. The Old Testament form of this name is "Jacob". Like the name "Clark", "James" may be either a given name or a surname and there are many famous Americans bearing this name as their first name or their last name. There was also one infamous American named James who was born 150 years ago today, on September 5, 1847 in the state of Missouri. He was the son of a Baptist minister who died when he was four years old. At 15, this boy joined a guerrilla band during the Civil War and after the war he organized a gang of outlaws that gained notoriety through their robberies of banks and trains during which many people were murdered. After being killed at the age of 35 by a gang member to claim a reward, Jesse James became a kind of folk hero who has been romanticized in poems, ballads and stories. If you think this is strange, you should realize that, even today, people who committed terrible crimes years ago are fondly remembered and even honored by some people with a warped system of values. -------For the past couple of years a group of Filipinos who work in neighboring cities have been attending the worship services of our church in the city of Takahama. They are all brothers and sisters and their spouses who are members of a church in a city over 200 kilometers north of Manila. One of their cousins happens to be an office worker of the Far East Broadcasting Company and while in the Philippines, I stayed in the guest house on the compound of that company. This cousin had been informed of my visit there and came by to welcome me. She introduced me to her colleagues and I was given an interesting tour of the FEBC facilities. I saw how the company transmitted Christian radio programs throughout Asia in over sixty languages and dialects. When I realized that one of their computers was connected to the Internet, I asked the operator to bring up the "Daily Word" messages. He willingly did so and, for the second time, I was able to read these messages on the Internet. The first time was three months earlier on a visit to my home church in the United States. I was happy to read these messages in another foreign country and I wonder if some staff members at FEBC may continue to read them at times. -------The New Testament contains a number of letter that were written to churches and individuals in the first century. By reading them, we are able to imagine the circumstances of those days and some of the problems faced by the recipients. The First Letter of Peter is addressed to God's chosen people who were living in various places as strangers, foreigners or refugees. Because they seek to follow divine commands rather than human traditions, sincere believers are often considered "outsiders" even in their homelands. In this letter, repeated mention is made of suffering or persecution which the readers are enduring. They are encouraged to endure it with the faith that even suffering is permitted by God for some good purpose. They were reminded of the beneficial results of the sufferings of Christ and urged to compare their sufferings with his. In chapter 4, they are told they should not suffer for doing something wrong, but "if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." In times of sadness, trials or suffering, if we believe there is meaning in that experience, we are able to endure it with peace of mind and even joy. The letter ends with a prayer that all the believers will have peace. -------In former days on formal occasions, clothes worn by aristocratic men included a black coat with long tails in the back. Even though it was inconvenient, it was considered proper, so men meekly followed the custom (like today's businessmen who wear neckties and suit coats even in hot weather). But one brave man, over a hundred years ago, attended a formal party in Tuxedo Park, an exclusive community north of New York City, in a tailless jacket that a tailor had made for him. His innovative jacket became an immediate sucess and was called a "tuxedo", spelled t-u-x-e-d-o. Actually, this word comes from a Native American word meaning "animal with a round foot", a "wolf". So a man who flirts with women while wearing a tuxedo may be called a wolf in wolf's clothing. -------On September 9,1850, 147 years ago today, the state of California was officially admitted to the United States of America as the 31st state. Named after an imaginary island (an "earthly paradise") in an old Spanish romance, it is the third largest state, a little larger than Japan. What does the name "California" bring to your mind? You may have visited there or know some famous cities, people, events or natural wonders related to that state. California is one theme for those who wish to write a short essay for me to correct and print in "Daily Word" Echoes. The second suggestion is related to another event that took place on this day in 1776, when the Continental Congress ruled that "United States" should replace "United Colonies" as the name of the new nation. As a result, we U. S. citizens do not have an appropriate designation for ourselves, for the term "Americans" may actually include citizens of 35 countries on the American continents. At the present time what does the name "United States of America" bring to your mind? I would be interested in reading your frank impressions, memories or opinions on either of these themes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama, Nagoya 463, Japan. -------Japanese with sensitive ears are often able to tell whether a person comes from Tohoku, the northeastern section of the country or from the southern island of Kyushu by the words, phrases or pronunciation the person uses. Thus we may speak of various local dialects. In the United States also, we may surmise that a speaker comes from New England, the South or the Midwest by that person's speech. So it is not strange that the kind of English which developed in the American colonies of Great Britain differed from that of the motherland. In the new surroundings, new words were coined, derived from Native American, Dutch, French or Spanish, and English words that had become obsolete in England continued to be used in the colonies. Thus an "American dialect" which was considered "barbarous" by sophisticated Englishmen developed. Today, we make a distinction between British English and American English. Of course, we may detect peculiarities of Canadian English, Australian English and Indian English also. In case you haven't realized it, the English spoken in these telephone messages is midwestern American English which, for better or for worse, is the most common kind of English used in the U. S. A. -------Anyone who is acquainted with recent American (or, more exactly, United States') history is also familiar with the name "Watergate". That is the name of an apartment building beside the Potomac River in Washington, D. C. In June 1972, burglars were arrested for breaking into the offices of the National Committee of the Democratic Party to gain information which would help President Richard Nixon get reelected that fall. As a result of that crime and the attempt of the White House to cover-up its involvement and to impede the investigation, President Nixon became the first American (or, more exactly, United States') president to resign and Watergate became the name given to that shameful political scandal. As a common noun, "water gate" denotes a gate that is used to control the flow of a body of water. Pratunam, the name of a busy shopping district by the main gate to an ancient canal in Bangkok, Thailand, literally means "Water's Gate". Three years ago a new hotel, named Amari Watergate Hotel, opened its doors there and is enjoying remarkable popularity among tourists because of its name. In this connection, you might be interested in the words of chapter 20, verse 1 of the Old Testament book of Proverbs. -------A couple of months ago the Japan Times carried a couple of articles about a similar problem on different pages of the newspaper. The problem was how to calm down a crying baby in the middle of the night, an annoyance that troubles many parents of infant children. It may be aggravated now that many mothers work during the day and need a good night's sleep. One article was datelined Japan; the other was from the Los Angeles Times. A 19-year-old Japanese mother had been arrested on suspicion of beating her 2-month-old son to death. She had punched her baby in the head several times at night because he was crying and would not go to sleep. In the morning, he was taken to a hospital in an ambulance where he died of brain damage. The article from the American newspaper reported about a new product on the market to calm the nerves of irritated parents and pacify a restless baby. A motorized crib mattress moves from side to side as its hidden speaker emits low whooshing sounds like those a baby heard in mother's womb. How to react to those who irritate us, whether children or adults, is a problem we face throughout our lives. The Bible teaches that our response should be an expression of love. -------A couple of days before I left the Philippines last April to return to Japan, the head minister of our church there took me to a large department store. His purpose was to purchase a barong tagalog as a gift for me. Can you imagine what a barong tagalog is? The native word barong by itself denotes a large, broad-bladed knife used by the Moros, an ethnic group in the south. When it is followed by tagalog, however, it denotes a light, loose men's shirt, usually with some embroidery on it, that is worn with the tails not tucked in. It is the national dress shirt of the Philippines. Over the past 45 years, I have made ten trips from Japan to the Philippines to visit or participate in the work of our churches there. Depending on the circumstances, such visits lasted from a week to a month. Sometimes, I traveled to the islands of Leyte and Mindanao, but this time, I stayed on Luzon. This is the sixth barong tagalog that has been presented to me over the years. Of course, styles change, so the new one is different than those received on previous visits. I wore it at the two churches I preached in on my last Sunday there and have worn it once since returning to Japan--when I gave a lecture on internationalization. -------Historical narratives in the Old Testament are primarily related to the Jewish nation, the descendants of Jacob, or Israel, the grandson of Abraham. According to the biblical account, this nation was specially chosen by God to be "a holy people". In the Bible, the basic meaning of "holy" is separated from what is impure or common, consecrated for a divine purpose. In this sense, the Bible is a "Holy Book" and the Jewish temple was a "Holy Place". In the New Testament, "chosen people" or "holy nation" is not limited to physical descendants of Abraham. It denotes those who share his spiritual character by responding to God's call with faith. In the First Letter of Peter, chapter 2, readers are called both "a chosen people" and "a holy nation". Here, the purpose of these special designations is made clear: God's people were not chosen to receive special privileges but to fulfill certain responsibilities. They were selected, or elected, to manifest the character of God, to proclaim God's mercy and love to the world. In the Bible, being chosen by God emphasizes responsibility rather than privilege and God's people today should be witnesses to the character of God--not only with their words but, more importantly, through their attitudes and lives. -------A well-known English nursery rhyme used in nursery school games is the following: "Ring-around-a-rosy, A pocket full of posies; One, two, three, And we all fall down." Nursery rhymes do not always make sense, but the word I will talk about today is "posy", spelled p-o-s-y. In modern English, "posy" denotes a flower or a bunch of flowers, but actually it is a contraction of "poesy", spelled p-o-e-s-y, which means "poetry". Originally, MHA01101 "posy" was a verse or motto inscribed on a ring, a knife, or some other object. In the final scene of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, a problem arose regarding a ring, "a hoop of gold, a paltry ring . . . whose posy was . . . 'Love me, and leave me not'", which is still very fitting for any newlywed couples today. -------T is the 20th letter of the modern English alphabet. A "tee", spelled t-e-e, is a small peg on which a golf ball is placed before hitting it. Another kind of "tea", spelled t-e-a, denotes a certain kind of evergreen bush, the dried leaves of that bush and the beverage made from putting those tea leaves into boiling water. The Japanese term for these things is 'cha', but when speaking of the beverage, it is usually preceded by an honorific prefix. There are various kinds of 'ocha', depending on the plant itself, when the leaves are picked and how they are prepared, but there is a general distinction between so-called black tea (literally "crimson tea", according to the Chinese characters) and green tea. Tea is said to be used by more people throughout the world than any other beverage except water and recent research indicates that drinking green tea may prevent or postpone the onset of cancer. "Tea" is the suggested theme for an essay this week. What thoughts or experiences does this word bring to your mind? I will correct essays sent to me and print them in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama, Nagoya 463, Japan, and I'd be happy to hear from you. -------While teaching an English Bible Class a passage that included the word "fruit", I have asked students to name all the kinds of fruits they could think of--in English. If I asked you, how many could you name? Most fruits are round or oval in shape, but one is long and yellow. Someone has suggested that its popularity is due to its lack of seeds and the ease with which its skin is detached. Of course, it is a banana, which has the same name in English and Japanese. This name comes from a West African word for that fruit which entered English through Portuguese and Spanish. The banana plant is a very large herb that bears only one cluster of fruit in its lifetime, so the whole plant is cut down when the fruit is harvested. Bananas are grown in the tropics where they are a staple food and are eaten raw, cooked or after being dried. The fiber from banana leaves may also be used but "banana oil" does not come from bananas. It is a synthetic product with an odor similar to that of a banana. "Banana oil" may be used colloquially to mean insincere or exaggerated talk and, as a slang term, "bananas" may mean "nonsense" or "crazy". In Matthew 7:20, Jesus told us to distinguish true and false teachers "by their fruit". -------Lexicography is the process or work of writing or compiling a dictionary. The most famous English lexicographer, Samuel Johnson, was born 288 years ago today, on September 18, 1709. Dr. Johnson is not only famous for his Dictionary of the English Language, the first comprehensive lexicographical work on English, published in 1755, he is also remembered for his witty conversation. Many of his conversations were recorded in a biography written by James Boswell. The following quotations show that he was a man of intelligence and humor who also had a bias against England's neighbors. "Language is the dress of thought." "Fine clothes are good only as they supply the want of other means of procuring respect." "It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. The act of dying is not of importance, it lasts so short a time." "If he be an infidel, he is an infidel as a dog is an infidel; that is to say, he has never thought upon the subject." "Much may be made of a Scotchman, if he be caught young." "The Irish are a fair people; --they never speak well of one another." "A Frenchman must be always talking, whether he knows anything of the matter or not; an Englishman is content to say nothing, when he has nothing to say." -------In the Bible, the Greek word translated "saint" was used for all living Christians and was not limited to a special category of virtuous people following their deaths. Since that time, this title has been added to the names of many people, some of whom are legendary rather than historical figures. You have probably never heard of St. Kitts, but that is the first part of the name of a country that gained its independence 14 years ago today, on September 19, 1983. When it joined the United Nations that year, it was the smallest member, with a land area less than that of the city of Nagoya. Its official name is St. Kitts and Nevis and it consists of three small islands the East Caribbean Sea: St. Kitts, Nevis and Sombrero. St. Kitts was formerly called St. Christopher and was given that name by Christopher Columbus who discovered the island in 1493. St. Christopher is a popular saint about whom there are many legends, but nothing definite is known about a man with that name who is said to have been martyred in the 3rd century. Most of the 42,000 inhabitants of St. Kitts and Nevis are of African lineage, but the official language is English since these islands were under British control for over 300 years. -------Last Saturday, I concluded a series of messages related to my trip to the Philippines in April. Today, I will begin a new series of Saturday messages related to the trip my wife and I took to Thailand in July. This was our second trip to that country and the main aim of both trips was the same: to visit our one-and-only daughter who lives and works there. When she first went to Thailand, she taught in a national university outside of Bangkok. At that time, her apartment was in Bangkok and that is where we stayed on our former visit about seven years ago. After that, she moved to a house in the town where the university is located and was able to ride her bicycle to the university. Subsequently, she became a free lance editor and has edited books related to peace, the environment and social action issues. A couple of months ago, she accepted a new position as editor of a new publishing company in the city of Chiang Mai, about 600 kilometers north of Bangkok. We were interested in visiting her previous residence and landlord, the International Church of Bangkok, where she has been an active member for a number of years, seeing her new living and working situation and meeting her friends as well as doing a little sightseeing. -------A popular singer or speaker who often appears on television may be called a 'tarento' in Japanese. This is a transliteration of the English word "talent", meaning a natural gift or ability. The English word is derived from a parable of Jesus, found in the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, in which a man entrusted various amounts of money to servants, according to their abilities, before going on a journey. Upon his return, he required an accounting of how they spent the money. Those who used the money wisely and earned more were praised and rewarded, but the one who made no use of the money but hid it in the ground was condemned. The Greek word for the amounts of money in this parable was 'talanton', which originally denoted a weight. The meaning of this parable is that God has given all of us certain gifts, or talents, that are to be used for a good purpose and that we will be held accountable for how we use them. From this parable, "talent" entered English with the meaning of a divinely-given gift. Not only special people, but all people, have natural gifts; this parable should cause us to reflect on whether or not we are using such gifts and how we are using them. -------Memory is a wonderful ability, but it may also induce sadness. Along with fond memories, we may recall experiences we would rather forget. Some people who have been in an accident or suffered a great shock or mental illness experience a partial or total loss of memory. This condition is called amnesia, from a Greek word meaning "no memory". "Amnesty" is rooted in the same Greek word, but it denotes a pardon given by an official body to people who have broken the law. It implies that the government will not remember their offenses. Amnesties are sometimes given in connection with a national celebration. An organization, called Amnesty International, seeks to influence governments to grant amnesty to prisoners of conscience who have not used violence in their struggles for human rights causes. -------Since today is a holiday in Japan, there will probably be fewer calls than usual to this telephone service. Nevertheless, since it is Tuesday, I will follow my custom and suggest a theme for those who wish to write an essay and send it to me for correction and publication in "Daily Word" Echoes. This 23rd day of September is called Shubun no Hi in Japan, autumnal equinox day, when the length of day and night are equal. ("Equinox" comes from Latin words meaning "equal night".) In the West, it is considered the first day of autumn and here, it is the middle of the traditional period called "higan", literally meaning "other shore", when visits are made to the graves of loved ones. It is also the day in 1790 when Karai Senryu departed for that "other shore". His name was given to a peculiar type of Japanese poem, "senryu", which he made popular. For an essay this week, I am suggesting one of those four themes: Equinox, Autumn, Higan, or Senryu, depending upon the writer's interest. I will correct essays sent to me and print them in the next issue of"Daily Word" Echoes, which is expected to be available at our meeting on November 30th. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463, Japan. -------The English names of six of the 185 members of the United Nations Organization include the conjunction "and", as in St. Kitts and Nevins, for example, but only one country has a hyphen in its name. That country is celebrating its national holiday today. Twenty-four years ago, on September 24, 1973, it proclaimed its independence, but it was a year later, following a military coup in Portugal, its former colonial master, that its independence was officially recognized. Located on the west coast of Africa, Guinea-Bissau is a little larger than the Japanese island of Kyushu in area. The name "Guinea" comes from the European form of a native phrase meaning "land of the black men" and Bissau is the name of its capital and major port. Most of its 1,150,000 inhabitants are farmers, growing rice, palm oil, peanuts and coconuts. From the 16th century on, this land was an important source of slaves sent to South America and there are very few European settlers there. Speaking for myself, it is very difficult for me to imagine how countries, enterprises or individuals who called themselves Christian could forcibly take people from their homelands, transport them to a foreign country and sell them as slaves. -------If my memory is correct, Aichi Prefecture, where I live, is often at the top of the list of prefectures in a couple of categories, such as the number of cars per household and the number of traffic accidents. But a recent survey has shown it is at the bottom of the list in another category: how much time husbands spend doing household chores. A national survey on social life showed that men in Aichi Prefecture spent an average of 4 minutes on weekdays and 11 minutes on Sundays doing such domestic chores as cooking, washing, cleaning and so forth. Other urban areas, Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa, Osaka and Hyogo, were tied for second to the last. At the top of the list were husbands in rural Yamaguchi Prefecture who spent an average of 25 minutes a day on such tasks in comparison to a national average of only 8 minutes. Part of the explanation for these differences is the time spent commuting to and from work and the availability of entertainment facilities. Nevertheless, now as more and more wives are working outside the home, such statistics should cause us husbands to reflect on our role in contributing to a happy, healthy home and to mutually invigorating human relationships within our families. -------This month, the world mourned the passing of two famous women who exhibited particular feminine qualities in their human relationships. Popular reaction to the achievements of these extraordinary women is in keeping with a recently released international survey which indicated that men may have something to learn from women in regard to being truly effective leaders. The survey of more than 1,300 employees from manufacturing and service organizations in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada indicated that "women made better bosses than men because they were prepared to put extra effort into their jobs and their supportive nature fitted well with modern workplaces". Women managers also "inspired workers to achieve higher goals", "were more likely to give symbolic rewards such as notes and public praise for a job well done" and were "more likely to encourage their staff to try different ideas and ways of doing things." The traditional roles of women were determined both by their child- bearing capacity and the stronger physical power of men, but in an ideal society, opportunities will be given to both women and men to exercise their natural, God- given, gifts for the benefit of society as a whole. -------Before buying the airplane tickets for our trip to Thailand in July, as is our custom, we checked with various travel agents to see which would provide us with the most agreeable service in regard to price, time and convenience. We decided to take a flight from Nagoya to Bangkok on an airline that required a stop in Taipei to change planes, which required a little more time but less money. We were supposed to be at Nagoya Airport two hours before boarding time to check- in, so our son came to our home early that morning to take us there. After checking- in, we sat in the waiting area to read the newspaper we didn't have time to read at home. Then, I recognized a gentleman sitting not far away. He was the pastor of a church in Nagoya who had come to see off his daughter who was going to California to serve in a church camp there for a month, so we chatted for a few minutes while waiting. During the short time we had in the Taipei Airport on the way, we looked around the shopping area, including the sections where duty- free items could be purchased, but we bought only a couple of items to give to people in Thailand because we knew we would have a longer time in that airport on our return to Nagoya. -------Every culture has traditional sayings that have been handed down from old times. Such sayings, which may be called proverbs, maxims or adages, express truths or common sense observations that are widely accepted. In Japanese such sayings may be called "kotowaza" or "kakugen", but the Old Testament book of Proverbs is called "shingen" in Japanese. This book contains not only short, pithy sayings but longer discourses on certain subjects that reflect the time in which they were written but include important truths which are not limited by time or place. Proverbs, chapter 16, verse 9 illustrates a theological controversy that has continued in the Christian church for centuries and continues today between the free will of human beings and the predestination of God. There it is written that "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Obviously, both human freedom and divine foreordination are taught in the Bible and it may be impossible for human beings to satisfactorily harmonize the two sides of this dilemma, but we need to recognize the truth included in both emphases. We are free to make choices, but God has an overall plan or purpose in which our choices are somehow involved. -------Q is the 17th letter of the modern English alphabet and there are three different English words with the same pronunciation as that letter. Two of them are spelled c-u-e. One kind of "cue" is a long rod used to propel the ball in the game of billiards or pool. Another kind of "cue" is a word or signal used by a performer on a stage to indicate when another performer should say or do something; it may also mean a hint or a suggestion. A third word with the same pronunciation, spelled q-u-e-u-e and rooted in a Latin word meaning "tail", denotes a long braid of hair hanging down the back of the neck. It is also called a pigtail. When Manchus from Mongolia conquered China in the 17th century they required the Chinese to wear queues or pigtails as a sign of servitude. -------This last day of the month may be an appropriate time to consider the relationship of "first" and "last", recalling Jesus' words in Mark 10:31. Earlier this month, the news media concentrated on stories related to the lives, deaths and funerals of two outstanding women. One was called "Princess" and the other was called "Mother". In many ways, considering their ages, social positions, nationalities, personal histories and life styles, these women were very different, but there was also a certain human, or feminine, quality that was similar; their spectacular funeral processions were televised to a worldwide audience. Now that a few weeks have passed since their departure from this life, what impressions remain in your mind regarding Princess Diana and Mother Teresa? What reactions did you have regarding how the media treated their lives and their deaths? If you have memories, current impressions or general comments on either or both of these extraordinary women you would like to combine into an essay and send to me for correction and publication in "Daily Word" Echoes, I would be happy to receive it. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya, 463 Japan. -------Regular listeners to/readers of these "Daily Word" messages know that I frequently make reference to a Bible passage in them. Some listeners/readers look up the Bible passage referred to. I'm sure such people were confused when looking up the Bible reference I gave three weeks ago in the message of September 11, due to a typographical error, which my proofreader (which is me) did not catch. The message noted the popularity of a new hotel in Bangkok because its name "Watergate" is the same as that of the hotel related to a political scandal 25 years ago in the United States. The message closed with these words: "In this connection, you might be interested in the words of chapter 20, verse 1, of the Old Testament book of Proverbs." The correct Bible verse is Proverbs 22:1, which reads: "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." Of course, in this verse "a good name" means an honorable reputation. I am sorry for my careless mistake and apologize for the confusion it caused the more diligent listeners/readers. To those who didn't recognize the mistake, I suggest that you look up the Bible references in future messages to see if you can catch my next mistake. -------Since the tragic death of Princess Diana, there has been much speculation and investigation regarding the cause of the accident. There seems to be reason to believe that the driver of the car was driving in an irresponsible manner. It may be said that he was "driving like Jehu". This English expression is used to describe a person who drives too fast and recklessly. Have you ever heard of Jehu? His name, spelled J-e-h-u, is one of many Old Testament names that begin with J-e in most English translations, which is derived from Jehovah, or Yahweh, the special name for God among the Jews. Actually, there are five men in the Old Testament who bore this name, meaning "Yahweh is he". The Jehu of the English expression was a king of Israel, whose activities are recorded in the 9th and 10th chapters of the book of II Kings. According to a story related there, Jehu was driving his chariot to a certain town. Men on the lookout tower saw him approaching but could not distinguish who he was. According to chapter 9, verse 20, he was finally recognized by the way he drove his chariot. There it is written that he drove it "like a madman". To those of you who drive cars today, I advise you: do not "drive like Jehu". -------As a foreigner who has lived for many years in Japan, I think there are too many words from foreign languages that are being used promiscuously in modern Japanese. Magazines and newspapers have too many words written in the katakana script used for foreign words or expressions. Some of these words have been given peculiar Japanese meanings that are quite different than their meanings in the original languages. And some uniquely Japanese words have been created from a foreign word that have no meaning outside of Japan. Take the word hotchikisu, for example. This is the common Japanese word for what we call a "stapler" in English. A stapler is a device used to bind material together by means of staples. So why is it called a hotchikisu in Japanese? The American inventor of this device was Benjamin Berkeley Hotchkiss, but he is better known as the inventor of improved kinds of guns, including the Hotchkiss machine gun and Hotchkiss magazine rifle. In Japan, where such firearms are illegal, hotchikisu may also denote a machine gun, but it is more commonly used for a stapler. Using the name of Hotchkiss for a stapler is an indication of the hotchpotch character of foreign-derived words in Japanese. -------Since my wife and I have been granted permanent resident status in Japan, we do not have visas that require periodic renewal, but whenever we leave the country, we must obtain a reentry permit. Otherwise, we would lose our permanent resident status. A few weeks prior to our departure for Thailand, we had obtained such permits. As U. S. citizens, we did not need to obtain visas to enter Thailand for our short visit and our passports, which are valid for ten years, had just been renewed in February prior to my trip to the Philippines so when we arrived in Bangkok in the early afternoon of Friday, August 25th, our official documents were all in order. Consequently, we went through the immigration process without a problem. We also had no trouble clearing customs with our one suitcase plus two small bags we had carried with us on the plane. When we left the baggage area and entered the open area in the large airport, we were greeted with many smiling faces, including those of taxi drivers or hotel representatives who wanted to carry our suitcase to their taxis or lead us to their hotels. We declined their invitations, however, and looked for our daughter who we had expected to meet us there, but we didn't see her. -------In most buildings where people gather to worship in Japan, there is some physical object of worship, whether seen or unseen. In Buddhist temples, images of Buddha are clearly visible to all worshippers. In Shinto shrines, the object of worship, or "goshintai", is not visible although it is enshrined there. In the Jewish temple also, the most sacred object was not visible to common worshippers. It was a wooden box, in which two stone tablets on which were written the Ten Commandments were kept. But this was not an object of worship for those very commandments, found in Exodus, chapter 20, prohibit the making of an idol or worshipping anything or anyone other than the true God. In Christian churches, a cross is the most prominent symbol, but it is not an object of worship. It is a symbol of the sacrificial love of God and of salvation offered to all people through the death of Jesus, the Christ. In many Protestant churches especially, an open Bible is also a central focus of attention but not an object of worship. Like the Ten Commandments, it is a symbol of God's word to us. Worshipping the invisible God whose character was revealed in the cross of Christ, Christians continue to seek to hear God's word for today. -------There are two different English words that are spelled m-e-a-l and are pronounced "mel". Thus, they are homonyms. The more common word denotes the food we eat at a particular time. Most of us eat three meals a day, which are called breakfast, lunch and dinner or supper. The other kind of meal denotes the edible part of grain that has been coarsely ground. My wife often makes use of cornmeal or oatmeal in her cooking. The adjective "mealy" is related to the second kind of "meal" and describes something resembling meal in texture or consistency. But to be "mealy-mouthed" is to be unwilling to state facts or opinions in simple, direct words. It is the indirect, roundabout way of speaking characteristic of many politicians on certain occasions. -------If we look up at the sky on a clear night, we will see a multitude of stars, and some of us will share the reaction of the writer of the 8th Psalm who recognized how insignificant human beings are in comparison with stars, both of which were created by God. Yet, since human beings have minds, they are superior to stars and able to study them. Such a scientific study is called astronomy. Astrology is the study of the position of stars in the belief that they have an influence on the course of human affairs. Some people regularly consult an astrological chart, but as Shakespeare has noted in his drama, Julius Caesar, "the fault . . . is not in our stars, but in ourselves". A traditional Japanese festival is related to a couple of stars and popular actors, singers and athletes are also called stars. "Stars" is the suggested theme for an essay this week. Writers may choose which kind of stars to write about. This is the final theme for essays to be included in the 58th issue of "Daily Word" Echoes, expected to be published on November 30th. I will correct those essays sent to me before publication. Please send them to reach me by Saturday, October 25th. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama, Nagoya 463 Japan. -------Have you ever seen a green house? Would you like to live in one? In fact, I lived in a green house for a while in the United States. But you must remember that when the expression "green house" is made up of two separate words, it denotes a house that is green. I and my family lived in a green house during a visit to our homeland forty years ago. When the words "green house" are joined together to make one word, however, the structure indicated is not green. It is a building whose roof and sides, made of glass or plastic sheets, are transparent. The temperature and humidity of a greenhouse, which is also called a hothouse, can be controlled for the cultivation of delicate or out-of-season plants. A newer term, "greenhouse effect", is now being used for the steady, gradual rise in the temperature of the atmosphere which is partly caused by emissions of gases produced by certain factories and certain convenient products used in industrialized nations. A Convention on Climate Changes will be held in Kyoto in December to discuss this matter, but the general public should be aware of the problem and cooperate in the effort to lower the emission of such gases even if it means making life a bit less convenient. -------What do you call the island located across the English Channel north of France? Many people would answer "England", but since 1707, that island has been called Great Britain. It actually includes the kingdoms of England and Scotland and the Principality of Wales, and in recent referendums the citizens of Scotland and Wales have voted for a greater measure of political independence. An English newspaper recently conducted a survey of 1,500 high school students in England between the ages of 13 and 16. In response to the question of where they lived, 88 percent answered "England", eight percent replied "Great Britain" and the others said either "the United Kingdom" or "Europe". Furthermore, more of them chose the English soccer team than the national anthem, "God Save Our Queen", to define their nationality. These results clearly indicate that the younger generation does not feel as "British" as their parents and grandparents, for a parallel survey indicated that a majority of English men and women over fifty still felt "British" and identified with the national anthem. Although that island may still be called "Britain", for a number of reasons it does not seem to be as "great" as before. -------Today, the tenth day of the tenth month is a national holiday in a number of Asian countries, commemorating quite different events. In Japan, this "Taiiku no Hi", literally meaning Physical Education Day, is popularly called Sports Day and commemorates the start of the Tokyo Olympics on this day in 1964, in which 410 of the 5,541 athletes were Japanese. In the Republic of China on the island of Taiwan, today is called Double Tenth Day and commemorates the anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Sun Yat-sen on this day in 1911, following a successful revolt that overthrew the Manchu dynasty. Today is also a national holiday in a republic consisting of over 320 islands in an area of over 18,000 square kilometers in the South Pacific Ocean. It is the Republic of Fiji, which gained its independence from Great Britain on October 10, 1970. The original inhabitants of these islands were Melanesian and Polynesian but they are now outnumbered by Indians who were brought to the islands as contract workers by the British in the 19th century. Cultural differences between the two groups are reflected in their languages. English is the official language, but Fijian and Hindustani are also recognized. -------After our arrival at Bangkok International Airport, we completed immigration procedures, picked up our suitcase and went into the open area where we had expected to be greeted by our daughter. When we didn't see her, we felt a bit concerned and began walking slowly away when we were relieved to see her descending a flight of stairs a short distance away. She had just arrived at the domestic terminal on a flight from Chiang Mai and was rushing to meet us, so the timing of our arrivals was very good. Together we went to the taxi stand where we boarded what was called a "Metered Taxi". Such taxis with meters are found only in Bangkok. In other places, passengers must bargain with the drivers to determine the fare. Fortunately, our daughter is able to speak Thai which proved of great help during our visit -- not only when we rode in taxis or other vehicles. She explained to the driver where the Christian Guest house was where she had reserved a room for us. On the way there, after getting off the expressway, we were reminded of the traffic situation for which Bangkok is famous, or notorious. It is a city of traffic jams, seemingly at all hours of the day and we were happy to arrive safely at the Guest House. -------There are two English words pronounced "yok". One, spelled y-o-l-k, denotes the yellow substance in the center of an egg. The other, spelled y-o-k-e, denotes a wooden cross bar with two U-shaped pieces that encircle the necks of a pair of animals when they are pulling a cart or plow. In a figurative sense, a yoke signifies some restriction of liberty and may be a symbol of bondage. There are many different kinds of yokes that are imposed on people in any culture. Some yokes are legal restrictions that force citizens to follow certain rules. Others are traditional customs that are imposed by social pressure. In regard to disciplining children, Westerners tend to discipline them more strictly and the child's yoke is loosened as the child grows older, whereas in Japanese society the yoke of an undisciplined child becomes tighter as the child becomes an adult. In the Old Testament book of Lamentations, chapter 3, verse 27, we find these words: "It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young." In the New Testament, the concluding verses of the 11th chapter of Matthew include Jesus' invitation to weary people to take his yoke upon them. He added that his yoke is easy to bear. In fact, it is a yoke of love. -------Do you know what a butcher is? Spelled b-u-t-c-h-e-r, this is a common term for a person who sells meat. Butchers these days sell various kinds of meat, including beef, veal, pork, ham and mutton, but I presume there are no butchers in Japan that sell goat meat. Nevertheless, the English word "butcher" is rooted in an old French word for "goat" and the original "butchers" were men who slaughtered goats. "Butcher" is also used for a person who kills, or slaughters, animals or people very cruelly. And, strangely enough, it may also mean a vender of candy and magazines on a train. As a verb, "butcher" may denote ruining or spoiling something because of careless bungling. With this meaning, a "butcher" would also be a "botcher", spelled b-o-t-c-h-e-r. -------During the 1952 presidential election campaign in the United States, many people pinned a button on their shirts, blouses, jackets or coats that had the short sentence "I like Ike" printed on them. In this way, they were expressing their support for one of the presidential candidates. Do you know or can you recall the full name of the man called "Ike"? He was born 107 years ago today in the state of Texas but was raised in the state of Kansas. After entering military service, he rose quickly up the ranks and became the commander of the Allied troops in Europe that defeated Germany in the Second World War. Following that impressive victory, when he was widely recognized as a hero, he stated, "Humility must always be the portion of any man who receives acclaim earned in the blood of his followers and the sacrifices of his friends." After the war, he served for a short time as president of Columbia University in New York and then served two terms as president of the United States. His name was Dwight David Eisenhower. Of the problems he faced as president, he once said, "No easy problems ever come to the President of the United States. If they are easy to solve, someone else has solved them." -------About 71 percent of the surface of the earth is covered by an interconnected mass of salt water which may be called the world ocean. This body of water is divided into various units with different names and the terms used for the different units are not consistent. In a list of the 21 major bodies of water in a world almanac, four "oceans" are listed. I am sure you know the names of the two major oceans, but can you name the other two? Along with the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the Indian and Arctic oceans are also on the list. There are 13 "seas" listed, including the Black, Red and Yellow seas. How many more "seas" can you name? There are also three "gulfs" in the list. Can you identify them? Two of them are adjacent to North America and the third is in the Middle East. But a very unusual name is that given to a large body of water in Canada called a "bay". Do you know its name? There is a river in New York that has the same name because it was discovered by the same English explorer who was looking for a northwest passage to the Orient from Europe in the first decade of the 17th century. His name was Henry Hudson and both the Hudson River in New York and Hudson Bay in Canada were named after him. -------The original aim of these "Daily Word" messages was to help students of English improve their understanding of spoken English by providing an opportunity to listen to a short, interesting message on the telephone, spoken by a native speaker, at any time convenient to them. Nowadays, however, many people are simply reading the messages rather than listening to them. (They may be read on the copies I mail out to those requesting them, on the NIFTY-Serve computer network or on the Internet.) Those who are listening to this message on the telephone should be able to distinguish the different pronunciation of the words "either", spelled e-i-t-h-e-r, and "ether", spelled e-t-h-e-r. The former word is an adjective meaning "one or the other". The latter is a noun. To physicists and astronomers, it denotes the regions of space beyond the earth's atmosphere. To doctors, it is an anesthetic causing a total loss of feeling which is administered to patients before an operation. The first major operation using ether as an anesthetic was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital 151 years ago today when Dr. John Warren removed a tumor from a patient's neck. This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama, Nagoya 463. -------In English, the term "Jew" has two different, but related, meanings. In the broader sense, it denotes a descendant of the ancient Hebrews of Biblical times. In a narrower sense, it denotes a person whose religion is Judaism. Thus, not all Jews (in the ethnic sense) are Jews (in the religious sense). The two major groups of ethnic Jews are called Ashkenazim and Sephardim. In both groups there are sincere religious Jews but different historical circumstances produced these two divisions. Following the loss of their national land and the collapse of the Roman Empire, many Jews migrated to Europe. Those who settled in central Europe, in and around Germany, became known as the Ashkenazim. This name comes from the name of one of Noah's great-grandsons (see Genesis 10: 3). These Jews developed a language called Yiddish, a mixture of Hebrew and German, along with other customs influenced by their surroundings. Those Jews who settled in the Iberian Peninsula, Spain and Portugal, were called Sephardim, derived from the Hebrew word for Spain. They also developed a separate dialect, called Ladino, and traditions influenced by Spanish culture. Both groups are together in the modern nation of Israel, whose official language is Hebrew. -------The Christian Guest House in Bangkok gives a special discount to missionaries, so our daughter had reserved a room there in my name instead of her own. She was personally acquainted with the director of that lodging place, to whom she introduced us. The Guest House office was on the second floor, but our room was in a row of rooms on the ground floor all of which had separate, outdoor entrances. An additional single bed for our daughter had been put into the room which usually had only two single beds. There was also a bathroom, a closet, a long horizontal mirror on the wall behind a long table and a small table with a couple of chairs beside it. On the small table there was a telephone, which was an important item in the room because it was from that telephone that I would call in my "Daily Word" telephone messages to Japan. Since Thailand is two hours behind Japan, I tried to make the calls about 10 o'clock in the evening, Thailand time. We arrived at the Guest House in the late afternoon, so we went to a nearby restaurant to have a dinner of spicy Thai food. Afterward, we walked to a large department store, where we were more interested in just browsing around than doing any shopping. -------The word "church" has a number of different meanings. It may mean the building in which Christians gather to worship. Such churches may be ornate structures or unadorned grass huts. "Church" may also denote a particular religious organization. In this sense, there are many different Protestant churches. But the basic meaning of "church" is a spiritual fellowship of believers. The Greek word in the New Testament translated "church" literally means "called out". It signifies those who have been called out by God to be a special people through whom God can work in the world. But the English word "church" is actually derived from another Greek word meaning "belonging to the Lord". The church consists of women and men, girls and boys who have committed themselves to the Lord, Jesus Christ, and who seek to be his witnesses. In the 12th chapter of I Corinthians, the church is described as the "body of Christ", in which the particular talents or gifts of each individual are used in harmony with those of other members of the body for the effective functioning of the whole body. The emphasis is on teamwork rather than on stardom. Even the most humble member of the body has something to contribute to the health and vitality of the body, whose head is Christ. -------Do you ever engage in musing? "Muse", spelled m-u-s-e, means to consider or meditate upon something at length. Some people who appear to be daydreaming may be musing about some problem. Rooted in an Old French word meaning "snout", "muse" originally meant to sniff, like a dog with his snout in the air, then denoted people who stared stupidly. When an "a" was added to the beginning of that word, to form the word "amuse", the original meaning was to stupefy, but it now means to cause to laugh or smile by giving pleasure. When a "b-e" is added to the word, however, the resulting word, "bemuse", means to confuse. Some of these messages may cause you to muse. Some may amuse you, but others may bemuse you. -------Have you ever heard of Trafalgar Square? Do you know where it is located? It is a famous landmark in the center of London. In the center of this intersection of six streets is a 56-meter-high statue called the Nelson Column which commemorates the victory of Britain's most famous naval hero, Horatio Nelson, in the Battle of Trafalgar. That battle took place 192 years ago today, on October 21, 1805 in the Atlantic Ocean off of Cape Trafalgar on the southwest coast of Spain after Admiral Nelson and the British fleet had pursued the French fleet across the Atlantic and back again. The victory of the British fleet over the allied fleets of Spain and France was the result of the British admiral's clever strategy. He divided the British fleet into two sections and penetrated the enemy line in two different places. As a result, 19 enemy ships were captured and one was blown up, but not one British ship was lost. At the beginning of the battle, Lord Nelson made the famous statement which has become a British maxim: "England expects that every man will do his duty." Nelson himself lost his life in that battle, but the victory ended Napoleon's power on the sea and made his anticipated invasion of England impossible. -------The word "opera" is rooted in a Latin word meaning "work". It entered English from Italian. An opera is an artistic work that combines drama and music. The dialogue in an opera is usually sung to the accompaniment of an orchestra. Opera arose in Italy near the end of the 16th century; the first opera house was opened in Venice in 1637. The English lexicographer, Samuel Johnson, called opera "an exotic and irrational entertainment" and Lord Chesterfield wrote: "Whenever I go to an opera, I leave my sense and reason at the door". While the words sung in grand operas are difficult to understand, the music, the drama and the setting may be pleasing to the ear and eye. So-called light opera, comic opera and operettas are more entertaining or amusing to common people. An American baritone has written that "Tenors are noble, pure and heroic and get the soprano, if she has not tragically expired before the final curtain. But baritones are born villains in opera." The first operatic performance in the famous Metropolitan Opera House in New York City took place 114 years ago today, on October 22, 1883. It was Gounod's "Faust", which portrays the perpetual struggle between the higher and lower natures of human beings. -------Today's message is related to expressions about the tongue, that small muscular flab in the mouth which is the principal organ of taste and an important organ of speech. To "hold one's tongue" means to be silent, to refrain from speaking. To be "tongue-tied" means to be speechless as the result of embarrassment or amazement. Following such a shock, when one "finds his tongue", he is able to speak again. Something "on the tip of one's tongue", is something that is about to be said or that is almost, but not completely, recalled. A "slip of the tongue" is used for a statement one did not mean to say or which should not have been said. Although it is impossible to speak with "one's tongue in one's cheek", that expression is used when the speaker makes an insincere or humorous statement that should not be taken literally. A "tongue twister" is a phrase or sentence hard to speak fast because of a sequence of similar sounds such as "She sells seashells by the seashore" or "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers". The third chapter of the New Testament book of James compares the tongue to the small rudder of a boat and a tiny spark that can set a large forest on fire and readers are urged to control their tongues. -------Last year between May and October, a nationwide survey was conducted to evaluate the physical strength of modern Japanese. 76,800 people between the ages of 6 and 59 were tested. Considering the present lifestyle compared to ten years ago, it is not surprising that the physical fitness of young people in particular has declined during the past decade. Tests in the survey to measure both physical strength and sports ability, included a long jump, a 50-meter dash, ball throwing, chin-ups and hand grip power. A decline in physical strength and fitness was seen among all young people aged 10 to 19, but was especially evident among 18-year-old males, whose average strength was inferior in all seven fitness tests than that of their counterparts in 1987. Eighteen-year-old females showed poorer achievements in six of the seven tests. Young people in Japan today do not get enough exercise. They spend much time in front of a television set or a computer and studying for entrance examinations. What will be the results of a survey conducted ten years from now? In I Timothy 4:8, the Apostle Paul recognized the value of physical training for gaining a material prize, but asserted that godliness was more important in the long run. -------We slept well the night after our arrival in Bangkok and ate breakfast in the dining room of the Guest House. There we met other guests from other parts of the country and from other countries. Our daughter happened to be acquainted with a couple of them. After breakfast on that Saturday morning, we walked to a street where our daughter hailed a public vehicle and bargained with the driver to decide on the cost of carrying the three of us to the bus station. There, she purchased tickets for us to take an hour's ride to the town of Nakorn Pathom where she used to live when she was teaching in a national university located there. On our previous visit to Thailand, we had visited that university and met some of her teacher friends. One of them, an American lady who had married a Thai man, still taught there. Our daughter had arranged for us to have lunch with this couple and their young daughter. We were supposed to meet each other in a certain park around noontime. In case we arrived late, there were various amusements in the park to keep them occupied or amused until we got there. The bus from Bangkok delivered us to the center of town and then we needed to find local transportation to that park. ------- |