Thought for Today

  1912: U.S. bans movies and photos of prize fighting as immoral and violent.  1922: First water skis sued on a lake in Minnesota 1938: Gold plates bearing the name of King Darius discovered 1973: 89 die as plane hits seawall at Logan Airport  Born: J.K. Rowling, Evonne Goolagong, O.B. Thrailkill Died: Andrew Johnson, Franz Liszt, Charles Hires [rootbeer], Bill Russell Thought: Today I am reading Philippians 2:1-2. As I read these two verses, my mind focuses on the word "if." One of my favorite poems and one I have asked my grandson to read and reread is "If" by Rudyard Kipling. Kipling writes an "if"--"then" poem. If you are and can do certain things, then you will be a man my son. If you can:     Keep your head when others are not keeping theirs     Trust yourself when others doubt     Wait patiently     Be the target of lies without resorting to lying     Be the target of hatred, but not respond with hate     ...

 1847: The Cumberland School of Law opens in Lebanon, TN, becoming the 15th law school in America at the time 1907: Robert Baden forms the Boy Scouts 1927: First iron lung used 1954: JRR Tolkien publishes the first volume of Lord of the Rings, "Fellowship of the Rings" Born: Mussolini, Martina McBride Died: William Wilberforce, Vincent Van Gogh, David Niven, Robert Schumann Thought: Yesterday we considered Paul' struggle--to live is Christ and to die is gain. Reading Philippians 1:27-30 today. Here Paul tells the church that while they remain in the flesh laboring for Christ that they conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. What does that look like? Some of us grew up wanting to be worthy of the good name our parents gave us. Some heard coaches say to play worthy of the uniform you wore. Soldiers were encouraged to enter the battle worthy of the uniform. We have called people or teams "worthy" opponents. " What does it mean to walk worthy of th...

1914: The foxtrot introduced by Harry Fox in NYC  1917: Silent Parade in New York City to protest lynchings 1945: Betty Lou Oliver survives elevator fall of 75 stories when plane hits the Empire State Building 1976: Tangshan Earthquake kills 240,000 in Northern China Born: Beatrix Potter, Jackie Kennedy,  Died: Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach,  Thought: Reading another familiar verse this morning--Philippians 1:21-24, especially 1:21. This is a theme in the life of Paul. Back in Galatians 2:20, Paul told us: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself for me." Paul is in prison. He does not know his fate. But he is confident that these circumstances will turn out for the progress of the gospel. In 1:22, Paul says he really doesn't know which to choose--death that is gain or life that is Christ. What a statement. I don...

1549: First Christian missionary reaches Japan, Francis Xavier 1586: Walter Raleigh brings tobacco from Virginia to England 1789: Department of Foreign Affairs created--State Department 1890: Vincent Van Gogh shoots himself, dies 2 days later 1921: Frederick Banting and Charles Best isolate insulin 1940: Bugs Bunny debuts in "Wild Hare"  Born: Leo Durocher, Peggy Fleming,  Died: Bob Hope Thought: I am reading Philippians 1:12 this morning where I have underlined the word "progress." There is much in the news these days about student progress in our public schools. Are students moving toward the goals? All of us try to make progress in life. We try and have a lower score on the golf course and celebrate when we do. We want to progress in our careers and celebrate when we get that promotion. We want to progress in our health--so we celebrate when we lose weight, walk a certain distance. We are all about making progress---in healthcare and treatments as we seek a cure ...

  1903: Horatio Nelson Jackson, Sewall Crocker and Bud [a bulldog] complete the first automobile trip across the US, San Francisco to New York in 63+ days Born: George Bernard Shaw, Stanley Kubrick, Mick Jagger, Sandra Bullock, Jason Statham Died: William Jennings Bryan, Eva Peron, George Gallup Thought: Yesterday, we concluded Ephesians with Paul's command to pray in the Spirit. As I turned the page to Philippians today, I am reading 1:3-11. Paul ended his letter to Ephesus in prayer and begins his letter to Philippi in prayer. Perhaps that is an example for me--begin everything in prayer and end everything in prayer--pray without ceasing.  Here is what I notice about Paul's prayer for the church at Philippi: The gospel centered lives of the church at Philippi gave Paul joy. [1:4-5]. A couple of things strike me--do I get joy from seeing others live gospel centered lives and does my life give joy to others? The answer to the first part of that question is generally yes--watch...

1897: Jack London leaves for the Klondike  1946: First show by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis 1978: First "test tube baby" is born 1956: Andrea Doria and Stockholm Sweden collide in the Atlantic Born: Walter Payton, Matt LeBlanc Died: Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Ben Hogan, Olivia de Havilland Thought: I have underlined Ephesians 6:18 in my Bible. Having put on God's armor and planted my feet to stand firm, what do I do next---pray. Pray at all times. Why would Paul add this to his letter. He must know Larry. My tendency is to pray when facing trouble, trials, tribulations, afflictions, suffering, challenges. And I am supposed to pray then--for strength, wisdom, patience, endurance, faith. But I often fail to pray when everything seems to be going well. Why? I got this! I have everything under control. I can let down my guard and relax. Pride slips in. And pride comes before the fall. So Paul tells us to pray at all times--good times and bad times; victories and failures; praise...

 1911: Hiram Bingham discovers Machu Picchu 1998: "Saving Private Ryan" premiers Born: Simon Bolivar, Amelia Earhart, Barry Bonds, Jennifer Lopez Died: Martin Van Buren, Peter Sellers Thought: Today I am reading again Ephesians 6, a passage very familiar to us-the armor God. Thinking about these verses again today, a couple of things come clear: It is God's armor and God's strength [6:10-11]. If I could only remember this. Instead, I find myself putting on my armor and relying on my strength. Why must I use God's armor, not mine. Because the battle is spiritual and the struggles are spiritual--against the rulers, powers, and forces of darkness and wickedness. My armor is not prepared for battling these enemies--but God in His grace provides armor especially designed for the battle--truth, righteousness, faith, the word. I want to fight battles with my human mind, my human weapons--He offers spiritual weapons and armor designed for the battle. Reminds me of that sc...

 1942: 300,000 Warsaw Jews are sent to Treblinka Extermination Camp Born: Sonny Liston, Alex Trebek, Prince George Died: John Dillinger Thought: I have been reading Ephesians 4-5 where Paul instructs us to walk worthy of our calling in Christ. Yesterday, he told us to walk with a transformed mind, not a futile mind. A transformed mind tells the truth, controls anger, is honest, labors to provide for self and others, and controls the tongue---a loose tongue leading to bitterness, anger, strife and slander. We are to be imitators of God. Think about that for a moment. When you grew up, who did you idolize? Who did you want to grow up to be? A parent, a coach, a teacher, an athlete? Our goal is to be like Jesus.  In chapter 5, Paul reminds us that if we imitate God, we will walk in love. [5:2] We want to be like Jesus who offered His life as a sacrifice for us--a sacrifice that was a sweet aroma to the Father. Now, we offer our lives as a sacrifice that rises as a sweet aroma to ...

 1861: First Battle of Bull Run 1853: Land set aside for Central Park 1925: John Scopes found guilty of teaching evolution in Dayton TN Born: Ernest Hemingway, Robin Williams,  Died: Robert Burns, Jimmie Foxx, Alan Shepard Thought: Having urged the Ephesians and us to walk worthy of our calling in Christ [4:1], Paul gives further teaching on how we should walk. He tells us to walk united as one body in 4:4-6, even though we each have different gifts to be used for the growth of the body [4:7-16]. The use of our gifts has one goal--that we all attain to the unity of the faith and knowledge of Jesus; mature Christians filled with Christ. [4:13] Have you ever thought about that--our goal in life is to be filled with Jesus so that it is no longer I who live, but Jesus who lives in and through me. And all of our respective gifts are to be used to help each other attain that goal. So using my gifts is not only for my benefit, but for the benefit of the body of Christ. And if I fail ...

 1881: Sitting Bull surrenders 1968: Jan and Larry Thrailkill say "I do" and they still do 1969: Apollo 11 lands on the moon 1976: Hank Aaron hits #755 and his last home run Born: Alexander the Great, Edmund Hillary,  Died: Bruce Lee Thought: Fifty five years ago today, a Saturday, Jan and I said "I do." I am sure neither of us knew what that really meant. But I am so grateful that she said it. I have told you before that I do not recall everything about the ceremony, but one thing Dr. Sherrill said has stuck in my mind for all these years--only the placement of one letter differentiates "united" and "untied." Where you place the "I" in your relationship will determine whether you remain united or become untied. We remain united.  Interesting that Ephesians 4:4-6 would be the place I am reading today since it speaks of a seven-fold oneness that unites the body of Christ--one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ...

 1941: Churchill launches his "V for Victory" campaign Born: Samuel Colt, Lizzie Borden Died: James Garner Thought: Reading Ephesians 4:1-3 today. Paul ends chapter 3 by reminding us that Christ is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think--providing strength and love. Now, Paul says, if that is true, walk worthy of Christ's calling. What has Christ called you to do? What is your calling in Christ? We could say, well, I got saved so I'll just wait for heaven. Or we may say, I was called to serve as a _________, but now I've done that and can retire. Or, we might say, I really don't have any special gifts or talents. Or, I just don't know what the Lord wants me to do. But here, Paul says we have been called--past tense. So I may not have listened, I may have ignored, I may have disobeyed, but Jesus has called and will call.  Paul says whatever you have been called to do, do it in a manner worthy of the One who called you. Some of our ...

 64: Great Fire in Rome 1290: England expels Jews--ban lasts 350 years 1925: "Mein Kampf" published 2013:Detroit files for bankruptcy Born/; Nelson Mandela, Nick Faldo Died: Jane Austen, William Westmoreland Thought: Reading Ephesians 3:14-21 today. In the first part of this chapter, Paul has presented his ministry, to take the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles [3:6-9]. Now Paul prays for the church. Consider his prayer this morning. The source from which Paul seeks God's blessing: Christ's riches in glory. [3:16] What a place to start our prayers. When I pray, I am seeking blessings from a storehouse of riches in heavenly places. If I pray for wisdom--I want the wisdom that comes from Christ's riches of wisdom. If I want peace or joy, I seek them from the riches of joy and peace found in Christ alone. When God tells Malachi to bring the tithes into the storehouse and He will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing, we often think the blessing will be mo...

 1861: Congress authorizes paper money 1853: Frances Havergal confirmed at Worcester Cathedral. Later, sitting before a painting of Christ on the cross ["Ecco Homo", behold the man] she wrote the words to "I Gave My Life for Thee." Born: James Cagney, Pjyllis Diller, John Jacob Astor, Angela Merkel, David Hasselhoff Died: Billie Holiday, Ty Cobb Thought:  Reading the end of Ephesians 2 this morning. Paul is writing to the Gentiles who have proclaimed Christ. What he says to them applies to me and commands thanksgiving and praises.  Before Christ:  I was separated from God [2:12] I was excluded from God's people [2:12] I was a stranger to God's covenant promises [2:12] I had no hope [2:12] I was without God [2:12] In Christ: I, who was separated, have been brought near to God. [2:13] I, who was at war with God, have peace with God [2:14] I, who was walled off from God by my sin, now have access to God [2:14, 18] I, who was an alien and stranger, am now a citi...

1099: Jerusalem captured by Christians of the First Crusade  1799: Rosetta Stone found 1912: Jim Thorpe places in the top 4 in each of the Olympic Decathlon events and wins Gold. Also won the Pentathlon 1948: Alcoholics Anonymous formed Born: Rembrandt, Linda Ronstadt, Arianna Huffington Died: Ponce de Leon, Anton Chekov, John Pershing, Gianni Versace Thought: Reading three of my favorite verses this morning. Ephesians 2:8-10. What a way to end the week. Paul wants the church to know that while in Christ we have been transferred from death to life, adopted as children of the Living God, and raised like Jesus with an inheritance of His riches, we are not responsible and cannot boast about any of it. Why? Grace alone. A few days ago I was singing "Grace Alone." Today I am reminded that grace is getting that which I can never earn or purchase--the price is too high, the debt is too great, the cost exceeds anything I can bring or pay. I am saved by the grace of God. He chose to g...

  1789: Bastille Day 1850: First public demonstration of ice made by refrigeration 1946: Dr. Spock publishes his book on child raising Born: Gerald Ford, Jane Lynch Died: Billy the Kid,  Thought: Reading Ephesians 2:1-7 today. Of course, these verses lead us to 2:8 -9 which most of us can quote. But today, I am thinking about the first 7 verses of this chapter. At the end of chapter 1, Paul lifts praise to Jesus, the head of the church. Now he turns to us.  Before Christ we were: Dead in our trespasses and sin. Every time I read this, I think about Zombies. Yes, I know that is weird, but think about it. The world seems to be fascinated with zombies--the walking dead. We have television shows and movies that draw millions of viewers and many books that attract avid readers. The tragedy is we failed to look around and realize that all that are not in Christ are actually walking dead. In the shows and movies and books, people are looking for cures, antidotes. Well, in Christ...

1832: Source of the Mississippi River located at Lake Itasca, MN 1862: Battle of Murfreesboro begins 1865: Horace Greeley says "Go west, young man."  1917: Three children claim to see Virgin Mary at Fatima 1966: Hare Krishna is founded in New York Born: Julius Caesar, Nathan Bedford Forrest, Patrick Stewart, Harrison Ford Died: Joy Lewis [wife of CS Lewis], Frida Kahlo Thought: Reading Ephesians 1:15-23 today. You may be glad that I have finally left 1:3-14. Paul has counted his blessings in heavenly places and now turns to the church at Ephesus. Paul prays a prayer for the church in these verses that we can use to pray for each other, for our church and other churches. In light of God's blessings, look at what Paul prays for the church-- That the church and every member would have A spirit of wisdom and revelation. [1:17] Wisdom and revelation comes from knowing God as He reveals Himself to us. God is wisdom and His Spirit gives us wisdom to know and follow His will, to ...

  1843: Joseph Smith, Mormon, says God allows polygamy Born: Thoreau, George Eastman, Bill Cosby Died: Erasmus, Alexander Hamilton, Charle Rolls [Rolls Royce],  Thought: Reading Ephesians 1:3-14 again today. Sorry for being stuck, but these verses are so rich and deep. Paul told us that in Christ we were blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. Then he listed some of those blessings: chosen, adopted, redeemed, given an inheritance, sealed by the Holy Spirit. Now go back through these verses and notice with me some motivating words: God has a purpose. We were chosen with a purpose. [1:4] God's purpose for our lives is that we live holy and blameless. Rick Warren wrote a book called "A Purpose Driven Life." In this verse, God tells us what our purpose should be--be holy and blameless before Him. How can we do that? Only through the resurrection power available in Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Praise God--He gave us both of those. And notice, when w...

1533: Henry VIII excommunicated  1804: Alexander Hamilton fatally wounded by Aaron Burr 1924: Eric Liddell wins the Olympic 400 meters. "Chariots of Fire." A missionary to China, he died in a Japanese prison camp in 1945 at age 43.  1960: "To Kill a Mockingbird"" published Born: Robert the Bruce, John Quincy Adams, Yul Brynner Died: George Gershwin, Laurence Olivier I have previously quoted some of Eric Liddell's most famous statements. Here are a few: "God made me fast and when I run, I feel His pleasure." In the race of life that you are running, have you understood what talent God has given you to give Him pleasure? "Many of us are missing something in life because we are after second best." 1 Corinthians 9:24 tells us to "run to win." "It has been a wonderful experience to compete in the Olympic Games and to bring home a gold medal. But since I have been a lad, I have had my eyes on a different prize. You see, each one...

1925: Scopes "Monkey Trial" begins in Dayton TN. The debate over Darwinism led to the creation of the first Baptist Faith and Message. Born: John Calvin, Nikola Tesla, Arthur Ashe,  Died: Clement Moore ["A Visit from Saint Nicholas"], Hadrian, El Cid Thought: Reading Ephesians 1:3-14 today. So much to consider in these few verses. This morning, I am focused on verse 3 where we are told that in Christ we have been blessed with "every spiritual blessing in heavenly places." The next verses enumerate these blessings, but this morning just think for a moment about what Paul says in verse 3.  When we begin to count our blessings, think about how long that would take, for we have EVERY Spiritual Blessing. I wonder how many spiritual blessings there are? And each of us has every single one of them in Jesus. This puts in my heart the melody to that great hymn, "Count Your Blessings." The hymn was written by Johnson Oatman [he wrote over 5000 hymns includ...

1741: Jonathan Edwards preaches his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" for the first time, setting off a revival. 1800: First cowpox vaccination in the US to prevent smallpox 1913: Patent for the erector set issued Born: John Pemberton, Ferdinand von Zeppelin, John D Rockefeller, Anjelica Houston, Toby Keith Died: Vivien Leigh, Betty Ford, Ernest Borgnine,  Thought: I concluded my thought yesterday asking Jesus to allow me to see myself as He sees me. This leads directly into Galatians 6: 6:1--We will all fail to live perfectly under the Spirit's lead and will fall into some of the deeds and thoughts described in 5:19-21. What do we do? We restore the one who fails with gentleness--we do not compromise the truth, but we are gentle in how we respond, discipline, correct and admonish. We bear each others burdens [6:2]. We recognize that sometimes my joy is insufficient and my peace is disturbed--so my brothers and sisters rally to me and encourage and comfort and...

1806: Cornerstone laid for the first Catholic Cathedral in the US--Baltimore 1873: Lottie Moon is appointed a missionary to China by the Foreign Mission Board  1928: Sliced bread sold for the first time using machine invented by Otto Rohwedder  1947: Roswell UFO incident 2005: Terrorist bomb attacks hit London public transportation--52 killed, 700 injured Born: Satchel Paige, Ringo Starr, Shelley Duvall Died: Henri Nestle, Arthur Conan Doyle, Anna Louisa Coghill [wrote, "Work, for the Night is Coming"], George W. Truett [pastor of First Baptist Dallas] Thought: Reading Galatians 5 today, a very familiar chapter. All of us are familiar with the fruit of the Spirit in 5:22-23. Take a look at what leads into those verses: 4:1--It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Why did Christ need to set us free? We were in bondage to sin and death. We had indentured ourselves into a debtor's prison--a s...

1527: Martin Luther stricken at dinner, goes into a depression. To combat his depression he writes "A Mighty Fortress is Our God."  1785: Congress resolves that the US currency will be the "dollar" with decimal coinage 1970: California passes the first "no fault" divorce law Born: Frida Kahlo, Janet Leigh, George W Bush Died: John Marshall, William Faulkner, Louis Armstrong. Jan Hus is burned at the stake for heresy-- a leader in church reform and forerunner of Martin Luther.  Thought: Reading Galatians 3 today. Looking at some truths Paul  was proclaiming to the churches in Galatia- 3:6--Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Abraham's right relationship with God came by believing God--and here, belief means accepting as true and acting on that belief. Makes me ask myself if I act on what I say I believe. Do my actions provide evidence that what I say I believe is really true? I say the Bible is true and without error--do I ...

 1687: Isaac Newton's "Principia" published, outlining the laws of motion and universal gravitation 1994: Amazon founded by Jeff Bezos Born: PT Barnum, Cecil Rhodes Died: Ted Williams Thought: I noticed something this morning. I have very few words or verses marked in the Book of Galatians. For the past year, I have been walking through my Bible and reading and considering again passages and words I have marked in the past. Then I got to Galatians. I am surprised. So I must carefully read this book. And immediately, 1:6-10 jump out at me. They seem to be designed to follow the thought from yesterday about Satan deceiving and tricking us. Paul is concerned about the Galatians and the gospel. A different gospel [1:6] A distorted gospel [1:7] A contrary gospel [1:8] A man pleasing gospel [1:10] Think about those terms--different, distorted, contrary and man pleasing. How was the sermon Sunday--different, distorted, contrary or man pleasing? How about the teacher? What about ...

 Happy Independence Day! 325: Constantine appears before the Council of Nicea--"Division in the church is worse than war." Happy Independence Day. Today, celebrate the freedoms that we have. Thank God for providing those freedoms and for blessing our nation. Pray for our leaders to seek to please God and not man, to seek God's wisdom, to obey God's commands. Then remember our assignment--if you want to live in a Godly nation, be a Godly people.  1803: Thomas Jefferson announces the Louisiana Purchase 1831: "My Country Tis of Thee" has its first public performance at Park Street Church, Boston, during a children's celebration of Independence Day Born: Calvin Coolidge, George Steinbrenner Died: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Marie Curie, Barry White Thought: Looking at two verses in 2 Corinthians 11 this morning.  11:3--" I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity a...

 Born: Samuel de Champlain, George M. Cohan, Tom Cruise Died: Jim Morrison, Don Drysdale Thought: Considering 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 this morning. Here is what I see the Lord saying to me from these verses: We are in a war. Do you look at every day as a battle in a war? Paul tells us to put on the armor of God in Ephesians 6. What is the war all about? Flesh versus spirit. 10:3 reminds us that while we are walking in fleshly bodies, the war is spiritual. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul reminds us that the struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places. Similarly, in Galatians 5, Paul tells us that the deeds of the flesh are in opposition to the fruit of the spirit [5:19-23]. I really need to remember where the war rages--it rages in my flesh which wars against my spirit. The mind is the battlefield. I often think of warfare as being physical. I watch the movies with tanks, guns, planes and bombs. I see the battles in Ukraine. Paul t...

1523: First Lutheran martyrs are burned alive--Johann Esch and Heinrich Voes 1643: First meeting of the Westminster Assembly. Later would publish Westminster catechisms  1863: Battle of Gettysburg 1899: Gideons founded; first Bible placed in a hotel in 1908 1903: Geronimo baptized into the Methodist Church 1908: SOS becomes worldwide distress call 1941: Bulova Watch Co. pays $9 for first network TV commercial Born: Olivia de Havilland, Diana Spencer, Dan Aykroyd, Carl Lewis, Andrae Crouch Died: Charles Goodyear, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Marlon Brando Thought: Read 2 Corinthians 9:15 this morning. One simple verse. "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift." This verse completes this chapter often used in sermons and lessons on giving. We have been instructed to sow bountifully. We have been promised that God supplies the seed and will provide a harvest of righteousness. We have been commanded to give cheerfully--with the assurance that the God of all ability and God of all g...