Thought for November 24

 History: 

  • 1642: Abel Tasman discovers Tasmania
  • 1655: Oliver Cromwell bans Anglicans
  • 1835: Texas Provisional Government authorizes Texas Rangers
  • 1859: Darwin publishes "On the Origin of Species"
  • 1874: Joseph Glidden patents barbed wire
  • 1896: First absentee voting law in US--Vermont
  • 1917: Bomb in police station kills 9 officers and one civilian in Milwaukee
  • 1932: FBI CRime Lab opens
  • 1944: Bombers begin first attack on Tokyo
  • 1947: Hollywood 10 held in contempt for refusing to say whether they were communist
  • 1954: First Air Force One christened
  • 1960: Chamberlain claims 55 rebounds
  • 1969: William Calley charged with My Lai massacre
  • 1971: DB Cooper hijacks plane, bails out over Washington
  • 1993: Brady Bill passes
  • 2021: Three men found guilty of murdering Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia
  • Born: Junipero Serra [priest who established missions in California], Zachary Taylor, Scott Joplin, Dale Carnegie, Lucky Luciano, William F Buckley Jr., Oscar Robertson, Paul Tagliabue [NFL Commissioner who was very kind to me], Pete Best, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Ted Bundy, Todd Beamer, Katherine Heigl, 
  • Died: Robert Lightfoot [exegetist], Diego Rivera, Lee Harvey Oswald, George Raft, Freddie Mercury, Warren Spahn, Arthur Hailey, Florence Henderson, 
Thought:
Happy Thanksgiving!
Something different today, although I will be in Psalms. On September 25, 1789, Congress completed work on the Bill of Rights. Before taking a break, Elias Boudinot made a motion to call the President to issue a proclamation of public prayer and thanksgiving. There was a serious debate---the motion was too European, the federal government did not have the authority. Roger Sherman spoke in favor of the motion. He is the only person to have signed the Continental Association, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and Constitution. He cited the Bible as his source for giving thanks and rejoicing like the people did after the completion of Solomon's Temple. The motion passed.

On October 3, 1789, President Washington issued a proclamation setting November 26 as a national day of prayer and thanksgiving. Washington said:
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have . . . requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness." . . .I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these Sates to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all good that was, that is or that will be."

Similar resolutions were offered by Presidents until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving an official federal holiday. One of the sermons delivered on November 26, 1789, was based on Psalm 97: "The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice." Read that Psalm with me this morning as we give thanks:

  • Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. [97:2]
  • Fire burns up His enemies. [97:3]
  • The heavens declare His righteousness and all the peoples have seen His glory. [97:6]
  • Be ashamed for worshipping other gods [97:7]
  • He is Lord Most High over all the earth and all gods. [97:9]
  • Be glad in the Lord and give thanks to His holy name [97:12]
Blessings
Larry

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