Thought for October 1

History:

  • 1847: Siemens AG founded
  • 1854: Watch company relocates to Waltham MA
  • 1867: "Des Kapital" published by Marx
  • 1868: Louisa May Alcott publishes "Little Women"
  • 1869: First postcards--Vienna
  • 1888: First National Geographic
  • 1890: Congress creates Weather Bureau
  • 1891: Stanford University opens
  • 1892: University of Chicago opens
  • 1903: First World Series Game--Cy Young is losing pitcher
  • 1907" Plaza Hotel NYC opens
  • 1919: Black Sox World Series begins
  • 1932; Babe Ruth's "called" home run
  • 1942: Little Golden Books begins publishing
  • 1949 Mao proclaims People's Republic of China
  • 1955: The Honeymooners premiers
  • 1957: First appearance of "In God We Trust" on paper money
  • 1961: Christian Broadcasting Network begins broadcasting
  • 1961: Roger Maris hits #61
  • 1962: James Meredith enrolls at Ole Miss
  • 1962: Johnny Carson hosts his first Tonight Show
  • 1968: "Night of the Living Dead" premiers
  • 1971: Walt Disney World opens
  • 1974" Texas Chain Saw Massacre" premiers
  • 1975: The Thrilla in Manilla--Ali v. Frazier
  • 1982: Sony releases its first compact disc player in Japan
  • 1992: Ross Perot enters Presidential race
  • 2017: Stephen Paddock kills 58 at a concert in Las Vegas
  • Born: James Lawrence [Don't give up the ship],  William Boeing, Vladimir Horowitz [pianist], Bonnie Parker, Walter Matthau, James Whitmore, Jimmy Carter, William Rehnquist, Tom Bosley, George Peppard, Richard Harris, Julie Andrews, Rod Carew, Randy Quaid, Theresa May, Mark McGwire, Brie Larson, 
  • Died: Lee Richmond [1st MLB perfect game], Louis Leakey [archeologist], Walter Alston, E.B. White, Curtis LeMay, Richard Avedon [photographer], Al Oerter [Olympic Gold in 4 Olympics], Tom Clancy, 
Thought: 
Still thinking about David and Goliath this morning. As I read today, I had a thought I had never considered when reading this story. In 17:9, Goliath challenges the Israelites to send out one man. If Goliath wins, the Israelites become the slaves of the Philistines. If the champion of the Israelites wins, the Philistines become slaves of Israel. Now for a moment, place your self in the place of the other soldiers in the Israelite army, Saul, and David's brothers. Yesterday we talked about upsets--here, the soldiers were placing their future at risk on the strength of David. 

Imagine the conversations in the trenches when they see David stride out to face Goliath. Has Saul lost his mind? Our future rests on a fight between that boy and Goliath. Verse 11 says they were dismayed and greatly afraid. What would you think if your future depended on a three point shooting contest between me and Steph Curry? Or a sprint against Usain Bolt. What do you think Saul was thinking? My last decision as king. Tomorrow I'll be a slave. 

The reason this hit me this morning was to challenge my faith in God's provision and plan. Sometimes God sends a person into my life who just doesn't look like the answer to my prayers. They don't look like a great teacher or a great preacher. They don't look like someone with a great voice. Think about Susan Boyle. She walks on the stage on Britain's Got Talent in 2009. She does not look like a singer. Simon Crowell sneers at her until she began to sing. [I had to stop writing for 6 minutes and watch that video again]. The reaction of that panel and the crowd is what I think about David and Goliath. The questions and doubts of the Israelites change in an instant. Forgive me Lord for judging people by what they look like or sound like. You can take the least, the weakest, the ugliest and make it strong and beautiful. 

Teach me again to place my trust in You alone and not in what my eyes or ears want to tell me about a challenge, a crisis ,a problem, a person. 

Blessings
Larry

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