Thought for March 20

 History:

• 1627: France and Spain sign accord to fight protestantism
• 1760: Great Fire of Boston destroys 349 buildings
• 1800: Volta reports his discovery of the battery to the Royal Society, London
• 1819: First shopping arcade opens in London
• 1852: "Uncle Tom's Cabin" published in Boston
• 1868: Jesse James gang robs a bank in Russellville KY
• 1922: First US aircraft carrier commissioned--USS Langley
• 1930: Colonel Sanders founds KFC
• 1942: MacArthur proclaims "I shall return"
• 1948: First live televised symphony concerts--Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra on CBS followed by Arturo Toscanini leading the NBC orchestra on NBC
• 1968: LBJ signs bill removing gold backing for paper money
• 1976: Patty Hearst convicted of bank robbery
• 1985: Libby Riddles is first woman to win Iditarod
• 1986: NYC passes first lesbian and gay rights legislation
• 1999: Legoland California opens
• 2003: Ground invasion of Iraq begins
• 2020: Tom Brady agrees to join Tampa Bay
• Born: Henrik Ibsen, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Edgar Buchanan [Petticoat Junction], Ozzie Nelson, Carl Reiner, David Warren [invented Flight "Black Box"], Fred Rogers, Jerry Reed, Pat Riley, Bobby Orr, William Hurt, Spike Lee, Holly Hunter, Sloane Stephens
• Died: Harry Vardon, A.E. Douglass [invented tree-ring dating], Chet Huntley, Lewis Grizzard [UGA classmate and humorist], Kenny Rogers, 

Thought:

In Matthew 23:13-36, Jesus pronounces a series of woes. The objects of His pronouncements are the scribes and Pharisees. But I am struck by the reasons for these woes—do they apply to me?

• Am I an obstacle to others seeing Jesus? (23:13)? Do my words or actions draw people to Jesus or push them away? Do they see a consistent life or a hypocritical life—two faced.
• Do I practice all the outward rituals of religion while acting greedily, selflessly, dishonestly? (23:14)
• Do I seek disciples who follow me or do I teach them to follow Jesus? (23:15) unfortunately we see this when people’s religion is based on a teacher, preacher or personality. 
• Do I make up my own rules or use magic words or phrases to mislead others? (23:16-22). Do I elevate the “how” over the “why.” You have to sing certain songs, perform certain rituals or rites, serve in a specific way. 
• Do I major on the minors? (23:23-24) 
• Am I careful to perform outwardly but hold onto my secret sins? (23:25-28) I want to look righteous rather than be righteous. 
• Do I claim that if I had been around I would have been John or Peter and not the rich, young ruler or Judas Iscariot? (23:29-33) I claim I would have recognized Messiah and not rejected Him? But every day, I fall short of the glory of God. 

I don’t know about you, but reading in “red” these woes causes me to stop, examine myself, seek forgiveness and thank God for His mercy and grace.

Blessings 

Larry