Is "Aloha Oe" a Hawaiian hymn?(Eng./It.)

Hymn No. 621, “けがれとあらそいは,” has the same melody as “Aloha ʻOe,” which was also included in our school music textbook. I wondered whether this hymn was actually adapted from “Aloha ʻOe,” a song originally sung in Hawaii.

My hymnbook gives the English title “Until Thou Comest Again,” but when I checked online, I discovered that although the title exists, the melody is completely different. “Aloha ʻOe” was composed by Hawaii’s last queen, Liliʻuokalani, and is a beloved Hawaiian folk song of farewell.

This melody spread throughout the world, and it seems that churches also began singing it as a hymn. I no longer remember the lyrics from our school textbook, but the hymn itself looks forward to the Lord’s second coming.

I sometimes sing solos in church services, but since this hymn feels so Hawaiian and summery, I’ve never sung it in the winter! 😆

　                                                            * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Aloha ʻOe” è un inno hawaiano?

L’inno numero 621, “けがれとあらそいは,” ha la stessa melodia di “Aloha ʻOe,” che era anche nel mio libro di musica a scuola. Mi sono chiesto se questo inno fosse preso da “Aloha ʻOe,” una canzone cantata alle Hawaii.

Nel mio innario il titolo inglese è “Until Thou Comest Again,” ma online ho visto che la melodia è diversa. “Aloha ʻOe” fu composta dall’ultima regina delle Hawaii, Liliʻuokalani, ed è una canzone popolare di addio.

Questa melodia è andata in tutto il mondo, e sembra che anche le chiese la cantino come inno. Non ricordo più le parole del libro di scuola, ma l’inno parla del ritorno del Signore.

A volte canto da sola nei culti, ma siccome questa canzone sembra così “hawaiana” e d’estate, non l’ho mai cantata in inverno! 😆

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にほんブログ村

Until We Meet Again in Heaven – In Memory of Brother Y (En)

This is a photo of the flowers displayed on the electone last month. Many of the flower photos I shared on my Japanese blog (Christian category) were taken by Brother Y, who kindly allowed me to use them freely. To my sorrow, he has now suddenly gone home to the Lord.

We had sung together in the choir for over forty years, but it was only during the past three years that we began to communicate more closely. Our friendship started when he showed me a beautiful photo of the pulpit flowers, and we exchanged LINE IDs.

During the past two years, especially throughout my cancer surgeries and treatments, he was always by my side with encouragement and support. When I was suffering from pain, one of my female friends and Brother Y would take turns calling me every day. Those conversations helped me forget the pain for a while. I truly believe the Lord had prepared him to be there for me during that difficult season—like a true brother.

He also recorded my solo performances. The video he took in June became his final gift to me. I never imagined that listening to my own singing would one day bring me to tears.

Since the funeral will be a private family ceremony, we will not have the chance to sing 

“まもなくかなたの” while offering white carnations in farewell, as is our custom. Instead,    I would like to share that song here on my blog as my way of saying goodbye. 

Thank you, Brother Y. Until we meet again in heaven.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”
(John 11:25–26)

I believe that our lives are in God’s hands, and that our time on earth is part of His plan. Each of us is born with a purpose, and when that purpose is fulfilled, the Lord calls us home

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The Blessing of 990 Yen Shorts(Eng./Ger.)

Recently, it has been very hot every day, but fashion has already shifted to fall items, and UNIQLO is holding a summer sale. Yesterday, I found a pair of cotton easy shorts that I had wanted for indoor wear. They were originally 1,990 yen, but had been reduced to 990 yen, so I couldn’t resist buying two pairs. 😄

Before going shopping, as is my usual habit, I prayed that the shorts I had seen advertised online would still be available, if it was God’s will. Even though most of the store had already switched to fall items, I did manage to find the shorts. I hesitated between size M and L, but since I wanted something comfortable to lounge in, I chose L. That turned out to be the right decision. 😄

                                                       * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Der Segen der 990-Yen-Shorts

In diesen Tagen ist es jeden Tag sehr heiß. Aber in den Geschäften gibt es schon Kleidung für den Herbst. Bei UNIQLO gibt es jetzt einen Sommerschlussverkauf.

Gestern habe ich Shorts aus Baumwolle gesehen. Ich wollte sie schon lange für zu Hause haben. Der Preis war früher 1.990 Yen, aber jetzt war er 990 Yen. Deshalb habe ich zwei Shorts gekauft. 😄

Bevor ich ins Geschäft ging, habe ich gebetet. Ich habe im Internet Werbung für die Shorts gesehen. Ich habe gebetet: Wenn es Gottes Wille ist, sind die Shorts noch da. Im Geschäft habe ich die Shorts wirklich gefunden.

Ich habe überlegt: Soll ich Größe M oder L nehmen? Ich wollte mich zu Hause wohlfühlen. Deshalb habe ich L genommen. Das war eine gute Entscheidung. 😄

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にほんブログ村

②コリント人への第一の手紙１３：２の原書（独習）(Gre/En/Ja)

前回の続きで、コリント人への第一の手紙１３章２節を取り上げます。下記テキストは、聖書アプリのTHGNT、その下はBible Hubの英訳になります。文法の詳細はBlue Letter Bibleをご参照下さい。黄緑色とオレンジ色の文字は、それぞれ動詞と名詞になります。

活用:    ἔχω（エホー）
語根:    ἔχω（エホー）
English:    I should have
動詞 - 現在・能動・接続法・１人称・単数

活用    προφητείαν（プロフェタイアン、プロフェテイアン）
語根:    προφητεία（プロフェタイア、プロフェテイア）
English:    [the gift of] prophecy
名詞 - 対格・女性・単数

活用:    εἰδῶ（アイドー、エイドー）
語根:    εἴδω（アイドー、エイドー）
English:    know
動詞 - 完了・能動・接続法・一人称・単数

活用:    μυστήρια（ムステーリア）
語根:    μυστήριον（ムステーリオン）
English:    mysteries
名詞 - 対格・中性・複数

活用:    γνῶσιν（ノーシン）*γ（グ）は読まない
語根:    γνῶσις（ノーシス）
English:    knowledge
名詞 - 対格・女性・単数

活用:    πίστιν（ピスティン）
語根:    πίστις（ピスティス）
English:    faith
名詞 - 対格・女性・単数

活用:    ὄρη（オレー）
語根:    ὄρος（オロス）
English:    mountains
名詞 - 対格・中性・複数

活用:    μεθιστάναι（メシスタナイ）
語根:    μεθίστημι（メシステミ）
English:    to remove
動詞 - 現在・能動・不定詞

活用:    ἀγάπην（アガペーン）
語根:    ἀγάπη（アガペー）
English:    love
名詞 - 対格・女性・単数

活用:    εἰμι（アイミ、エイミ）
語根:    εἰμί（アイミ、エイミ）
English:    I am
動詞 - 現在・能動・直説法・一人称・単数

「ἔχω（エホー）= I have」は３ヶ所に出て来ますが。「ἔχω」は「ἐὰν（エアン）= if」と一緒になって「ἐὰν ἔχω」となり、「もし～を持っているならば」という条件を作ります。Bible Hub訳が「if I should have」で、NKJV訳が「though I have」になっています。

これは、前者が「もし～を持っているならば」に対し、後者は「even if I have（たとえ～を持っていても）」となり、後者の方がパウロの意図「能力や賜物があっても愛がなければ意味がない」を直接表すことが出来ます。

「προφητείαν（プロフェタイアン）=prophecy（預言）」ですが、「the gift（賜物）」という意味が含まれています。

又、「μεθιστάναι（メシスタナイ）=remove」ですが、語根の「 μεθίστημι（メシステミ）」は「μετα-（移動）＋ ἵστημι（立てる）」から派生して、「移す、動かす」という意味になっているようです。

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にほんブログ村

④My Faith Journey: Led to Baptism (En)

(A mysterious dream I had after receiving the Holy Spirit came true—and I was baptized.)

Even though I had received the Holy Spirit, I hadn’t yet been baptized. But God, in His kindness, gently led me toward it. In the beginning, my faith was uncertain. It wasn’t easy for me to change over twenty years of habits and values, and traveling more than an hour to church every Sunday felt exhausting. Every month, as the baptismal service approached, a devoted church member, Ms. S, would ask, “Would you like to be baptized?” But I kept avoiding the question. I felt I couldn't be baptized unless I was fully convinced. For six months, I lived with one foot in the world and the other in the church.

After I received the Holy Spirit in April, many strange things began to happen. Today, I no longer need “signs,” because Jesus knows I trust Him and believe in His presence. But back then, I was still struggling with doubts about whether He really existed. It felt like He showed me miracles just to tell me, “I am here.” I saw so many of them that I could no longer think they were coincidences. I had to admit, “This is real—God is alive and at work.”

In October, Ms. S encouraged me again: “This is the last baptismal service of the year. Would you consider being baptized?” Unlike now, baptisms were only held through October back then. Still, I couldn’t make a decision. About ten days before the service, I suddenly developed a sharp pain in the pit of my stomach. I’ve always been prone to duodenal ulcers—maybe even as a result of past sins like fortune-telling—but until then, the symptoms had been quiet. I endured the pain without seeing a doctor, but it grew worse by the day. I began to feel that there must be some meaning behind it. I had many inner struggles, but in the end, the Holy Spirit gently led me to baptism. Looking back, I think if I hadn't experienced that pain, I might not have made the decision. I’m truly thankful—I was even saved through my illness.

The day before the baptism, I remembered a short dream I had back in June.
Everything was pitch black. There was no moon, no stars—just a vast desert. Countless people, thousands or tens of thousands, were running in one direction, as if being chased. My boyfriend and I were among them. We were wearing unfamiliar white garments, and we were holding hands, running together. Exhausted, I looked up—and there in the sky was a golden, glowing cross. I raised my right hand toward it, and then, only the two of us were lifted up into the sky. At the time, I just thought, “What a strange dream.”

I called a mutual friend that day to let him know I would be baptized the next day—and I shared the dream, too. I told him, “Isn’t it mysterious? That dream came true—I’m going to become a Christian through baptism. But since I’m the only one being baptized, I guess only half of it came true.”

October 14 finally arrived. My boyfriend came all the way from Nagoya to attend the service. After worship, I told him, “I’ll go change into my baptismal clothes—wait here, okay?” But when I came back, there he was, already dressed in white, ready to be baptized himself! It was only his second time at church, so I couldn’t imagine what had happened while I was away.
Our church practices baptism by full immersion. There’s a baptismal pool hidden beneath the floor, which we uncover for the service. Baptism is a kind of living funeral. When we confess our sins and accept Jesus as our Savior, we die to our old selves and are born again as new creations. When my turn came, the pastor supported me as I leaned back into the water with a splash and then quickly brought me back up. The prayer began. It felt both short and long at the same time.

After the ceremony, I asked my boyfriend why he’d suddenly decided to be baptized. He said, “Associate Pastor S just told me, ‘Doing the right thing takes courage.’” That one line had moved him to take the step. I believe it was the Holy Spirit—whom he had just received that very day—guiding him. (He later said he felt incredibly refreshed when he received the Spirit.) Hallelujah! 

We were both filled with a quiet, overflowing joy and peace that lasted for a long time. I remember thinking, “This must be the peace of God.” Then I suddenly realized—my stomach pain, which had been so intense up until the baptism, was completely gone. I was astonished. I believe the illness had come from my sin, and because Jesus had forgiven me, I was healed. That’s how I became a Christian.

---

Postscript

That dream, I came to realize, was a dream about the end of the world. It was terrifying. Later, when I read the Book of Revelation at the end of the New Testament, I was amazed at how similar it was to what I had seen. What surprised me even more was that the white clothing in the dream turned out to be the same as the baptismal robe. At the time of the dream, I had no idea what a baptismal robe even looked like—I’d never seen one before.

----- to be continued -----

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にほんブログ村

①コリント人への第一の手紙１３：１の原書（独習）(Gre/En/Ja)

今回はコリント人への第一の手紙１３章１節を取り上げます。１３章は良く聞かれるみことばなので、何回かに分けて調べたいと思います。下に掲載したテキストは、聖書アプリのTHGNT、その下の英語はBible Hubの英訳になります。

品詞は動詞（黄緑色）と名詞（オレンジ色）だけをピックアップしています。文法などの詳細はBlue Letter Bibleをご参照下さい。括弧内の定冠詞(the)は、Blue Letter BibleとBible Hubでブランクだった為、便宜上私が付け加えたものです。

活用:    γλώσσαις（グロッサイス）

語根:    γλῶσσα（グロッサ）

English:    tongues

名詞 - 与格・女性・複数

活用:    ἀνθρώπων（アンスローポーン）

語根:    ἄνθρωπος（アンスローポス）

English:    of men

名詞 - 属格・男性・複数

活用:    λαλῶ（ラロー）

語根:    λαλέω（ラレーオ）

English:    I speak

動詞 - 接続法・１人称・現在

活用:    ἀγγέλων（アンゲローン）

語根:    ἄγγελος（アンゲロス）

English:    of angels

名詞 - 属格・男性・複数

活用:    ἀγάπην（アガペーン）

語根:    ἀγάπη（アガペー）

English:    love

名詞 - 対格・女性・単数

活用:    ἔχω（エホー）

語根:    ἔχω（エホー）

English:    have

動詞 - 接続法・１人称・単数

活用:    γέγονα（ゲゴナ）

語根:    γίνομαι（ゲノマイ）

English:    I have become

動詞 - 完了・直説法・１人称・単数

活用:    χαλκὸς（ハルコス）

語根:    χαλκός（ハルコス）

English:   a brass

名詞 - 主格・男性・単数

活用:    ἠχῶν（エホーン）

語根:    ἠχέω（エへオー）

English:    sounding

動詞 - 現在分詞・男性・単数

活用:    κύμβαλον（クムバロン）

語根:    κύμβαλον（クムバロン）

English:    a cymbal

名詞 - 主格・中性・単数

活用:    ἀλαλάζον（アララゾン）

語根:    ἀλαλάζω（アララゾー）

English:    clanging

動詞 - 現在分詞・中性・単数

１３章１節の文は長いので、青い縦線で３つに区切りました。前半「（条件節）Ἐὰν ～ ἀγγέλων」、中間「ἀγάπην ～ ἔχω」、後半（帰結）「γέγονα ～ ἀλαλάζον」となります。「たとい・・でも、もし・・がなければ、わたしは・・である」という流れです。

語順が不規則なことや、省略されている主語は動詞の形で判断して読まなくてはならず難しいです。後半の「 γέγονα（ゲゴナ）」は「 γίνομαι（ゲノマイ）= become」の完了形で、私は～になってしまった（今もその状態にあるというニュアンス）です。

このみことばには特別ないきさつがあります。私の実家は兼業農家だったせいか、朝がとても早く、幼い頃に毎朝流れていたラジオ番組の最後に「心に愛がなければ、どんなに美しい言葉も相手の心に響かない。聖パウロの言葉より。」と語られていました。

番組の内容は全く覚えていませんが、この言葉だけは（毎日繰り返されていたので）いつの間にか覚えてしまったようです。もちろん意味もわからず、言葉だけをはっきり覚えていました。この言葉だけが耳に残り、心に刻まれていたのです。

それから十何年も経ち、イエス様に出会い聖書を手に取りました。そして、その言葉がコリント人への第一の手紙１３章１節だと知ったのです。私が初めて御言葉に触れたのは高２の英語の教科書だと思っていましたが、それよりももっと前だったようです。

私が生まれる前から、神様の私に関するプランが決められていて、その成長の過程で神様が私の心に語りかけて下さっていたのだと思いました。😀

驚いたことに、「こころのともしび」は現在でも早朝の５分間、全国ネットのラジオでほぼ毎日放送されているカトリック教会の番組なのですね！下記をクリックしていただければ、「こころのともしび」のサイトに行きますので、詳細はこちらをご覧下さい。

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にほんブログ村

Picking Up Speedwriting Again After Decades (En)

Recently, I've been watching a morning drama on NHK. The main character is a woman who taught herself shorthand after the war, using a book left behind by her late husband, and eventually became a newspaper reporter. It reminded me of a time when I was working in trade and dreamed of becoming a secretary at a foreign company. I secretly attended a school that trained secretaries for foreign firms, making sure not to let anyone know I was planning a career change.

There, I learned not only English conversation but also how to write resumes and cover letters in English—and even studied speedwriting. It was a win-win system: the school trained people with no prior secretarial experience and introduced them to foreign companies free of charge. Speedwriting turned out to be very helpful before Windows became widespread, and thanks to that, I was able to land a job as an executive secretary at an Italian company.

Six years ago, during a major cleanup, I cleared out a room that had basically turned into a storage space. For some reason, I had held on to my old shorthand textbook and graded practice sheets. Back then, I would listen to church messages, translate them into English, and take notes in English shorthand as practice.

The other day, I glanced at the textbook and was surprised at how much I still remembered. I considered just throwing it away, but then it occurred to me that, since my listening skills are weak, even jotting down a few notes might help. So, for the first time in decades, I’ve started practicing with that pink textbook again—it's about 360 pages long.

There are 20 lessons in total, and as of today, I’ve reached Lesson 16. Somehow, I’m really starting to enjoy it. 😀

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Pets That Cross the Rainbow Bridge (En)

Last month, a friend of mine lost his dog, who had been with him for over a decade. Recently, I learned that when a pet dies, people often say, “XX-chan has crossed the rainbow.” This expression comes from a poem known as The Rainbow Bridge.

After researching it further, I found the original poem. Although the author was long unknown, the poem is copyrighted, so I’ll share the link here:

https://www.rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm

The Rainbow Bridge describes a beautiful place near heaven where beloved pets go after they pass away. There, pets who died of illness or old age are restored to perfect health. They play freely and happily with other animals, free from pain or fear. The only thing missing is their beloved human. But one day, when that person also passes away, they are reunited at the Rainbow Bridge. Pet and owner joyfully cross the bridge together, never to be separated again.

Interestingly, there seems to be a kind of time gap in the story—pets arrive first and wait for the day they’ll be reunited with their humans. This comforting vision has helped many people cope with the grief of losing a beloved pet.

Although I initially wrote that the author is unknown, I later found an article suggesting that the original author was identified just a couple of years ago. The article is a long read, but quite fascinating—it even includes a photo of the handwritten manuscript.

https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/article/the-rainbow-bridge-the-true-story-behind-historys-most-influential-piece-of-animal-mourning-literature/

The Bible doesn’t clearly tell us whether animals go to heaven. Still, since all creatures were made by God, I told the brother in the Lord that I believe his pet is resting peacefully in God’s arms, and I prayed that the Lord would comfort his heart.




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にほんブログ村

コリント人への第二の手紙３：１７の原書（独習）(Gre/En/Ja)

二ヶ月ぶりに古典ギリシャ語シリーズを再開したいと思います。短めの聖句を取り上げました。品詞は動詞（黄緑色）と名詞（オレンジ色）だけをピックアップしています。詳細な文法などの内容は、Blue Letter Bibleをご参照下さい。

下に掲載したテキストですが、ギリシャ語は聖書アプリのTHGNT、その下の英語はBible Hubの逐次訳を参考にしたものです。なお、私は古典ギリシャ語は初心者の為、間違いがあるかも知れないことを予めご了承下さい。^^;

活用:    κύριος（クリオス）

語根:    κύριος（クリオス）

English:    Lord

名詞 - 主格・男性・単数

活用:    πνεῦμά（ニューマ）* 「π」は発音しません。

語根    πνεῦμα（ニューマ）

English:    Spirit

名詞 - 主格・中性・単数

活用:    ἐστιν（エスティン）

語根:    εἰμί（アイミー／エイミー）

English:    is

動詞 - ３人称・単数・現在

活用:    κυρίου（クリウー）

語根:    κύριος（クリオス）

English:    of [the] Lord [is]

名詞 - 属格・男性・単数

活用:    ἐλευθερία（エルセリーア）

語根:    ἐλευθερία（エルセリーア）

English:    [there is] freedom.

名詞 - 主格・女性・単数

前半の"The Lord is the Spirit" は、英語ではSVC（主語・be動詞・補語）で第2文型になりますが、ギリシャ語（ὁ δὲ κύριος τὸ πνεῦμά ἐστιν）の方は、πνεῦμάが補語に見えますが、ギリシャ語の性質で、κύριοςとπνεῦμάはどちらも主格です。口語訳では「 δὲ=now」は訳されていませんが、「主は霊である」です。

後半の「οὗ δὲ τὸ πνεῦμα κυρίου, ἐλευθερία.」の中には動詞がありません。ギリシャ語では度々動詞が省略されます。「κυρίου」は「of Lord」、「ἐλευθερία」は「freedom」ですが、それぞれに動詞等を補って、「κυρίου=of [the] Lord [is]」、「ἐλευθερία=[there is] freedom」になり、「そして、主の霊のあるところには、自由がある。」です。

天地創造の時、受肉前のイエス様（ヨハネ1:1-3）と神の霊＝聖霊（創世記1:2）は存在していました。旧約時代は、神の霊は預言者、王、指導者など特定の人に特定の働きに伴って臨まれました。新約では、ペンテコステ以降に全ての信者に聖霊が恒常的に内住されています。

旧約時代は或る意味律法に縛られている（ように見える）生活でしたが、新約時代の私達は、神の霊である聖霊が内住することで、律法的な外からの命令ではなく、聖霊によって自己中心や恐れや罪から解放され、導かれ、愛と真理に生きる自由が与えられました。

ただし、私の信仰初期の痛い経験でもありますが^^;、自分の思いや我が強すぎると聖霊様は静かになり働かれなくなります。神様を信頼し、御手に委ねて歩めることは感謝です。

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にほんブログ村

Singing Solo at Sunday Service: "とおきくにや" (En/It)

Last month, at the fifth Sunday service, I sang solo hymn No. 397, “とおきくにや”. I sang verses 1 to 3, including the part sung with the congregation. I raised the pitch by a half step from the original key just before the performance to match the pianist.

I forwarded the video to my vocal teacher and received her feedback. She said, "Once again, I realized this is a difficult song. It’s one I’d like you to sing again." Also, it’s been a little over a year since my last surgery, and my teacher recently said to me, “You’re back to singing.”

I wasn’t able to use the abdominal muscles needed for singing (to avoid putting strain on my intestines), but now I can finally sing operatic arias with full strength again. I’m practicing the arias and Italian songs I used to sing. Singing brings me such joy. Hallelujah.😀

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Il mese scorso, al quinto culto della domenica, ho cantato da sola l’inno numero 397, “とおきくにや”. Ho cantato le strofe da uno a tre, incluso il pezzo cantato con la congregazione. Ho alzato la tonalità di mezzo tono rispetto alla tonalità originale, poco prima dell’esibizione, per accordarmi con la pianista.

Ho inviato il video alla mia insegnante di canto e ho ricevuto il suo commento. Ha detto: "Ancora una volta, ho capito che questa è una canzone difficile. È una delle canzoni che vorrei che tu cantassi di nuovo." È passato poco più di un anno dalla mia ultima operazione, e la mia insegnante mi ha detto recentemente: “Sei tornata a cantare.”

Non potevo usare i muscoli addominali necessari per cantare (per non affaticare l’intestino), ma ora posso finalmente cantare di nuovo le arie d’opera con tutta la forza. Sto ripassando le arie e le canzoni italiane che cantavo prima. Cantare mi dà tanta gioia. Alleluia.😀

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村