Thought for Today

1954: Willie Mays makes his famous over the shoulder catch in Game One of the World Series 1916: John D Rockefeller becomes the first billionaire  2008: Dow falls 777.68 points as Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual bankrupt Born: Cervantes, Horatio Nelson, Greer Garson, Anita Ekberg, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lech Walsea Died: Rudolf Diesel, Casey Stengel, Tony Curtis Thought: From Geneva. We are flying home today and should be in our own bed tonight. Reading James 1:2 this morning. This passage is often preached. Some quick thoughts before catching the plane. Consider--James does not tell us it is all joy when we encounter trials. He says we have to consider it all joy. I consider it joy because I know God is using it for a purpose. So my trials and afflictions are not without purpose. God is going to use them to demonstrate His character--power, grace, mercy, love, sufficiency, provision. I may not understand at the time or I may never understand in this life, but I consider it all joy...

 1520: Suleiman the Magnificent becomes Ottoman Sultan 1659: Peter Stuyvesant prohibits tennis during religious services--first mention of tennis in the US 1846: Anesthetic ether used for the first time--a tooth extraction 1946: 22 Nazi leaders found guilty of war crimes at Nuremberg 1950: First television broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry 1960: "The Flintstones" premiers Born: Buddy Rich, Truman Capote, Martina Hingis, Died: George Whitefield, James Dean,  Thought: Back at home, but tired and body clock out of sync.  Back in the first chapter of James this morning reading 1:2-8. Yesterday we were told to consider it all joy when we encounter various trials. I mentioned that we can consider trials all joy because we know God has a purpose in them. Verse three tells us that we consider trials all joy because we know that testing or proving our faith produces endurance. So in facing trials we understand that our faith is tested and when we are faithful, we build endurance. Wh...

 935: Saint Wenceslas murdered by his brother 1781: Siege of Yorktown begins 1889: First meeting of the General Conference on Weights and Measures. A meter is defined as the distance between two lines on a standard bar of alloy of platinum with 10% iridium measured at the melting point of ice--Use it all the time. 1968: "Hey Jude" goes #1 Born: Ed Sullivan, Alice Marble, Tom Harmon, Brigette Bardot Died: Edwin Hubble, Ferdinand Marcos, Miles Davis, Pierre Trudeau,  Thought: From Lausanne Switzerland Finishing Hebrews 13 this  morning. Two last instructions on living in faith.  13:17--Obey and submit to your leaders. The under-shepherds keep watch over you. They have been called by God and are responsible to Him for the flock. We read that teachers have a higher standard---they are in a position to mislead or misdirect. This is not blind obedience for we are responsible to discern and avoid strange teachings. But it is living in submission to leadership. When we don't...

 1066: William the Conqueror's troops sail from Normandy to England 1590: Urban VII died after 13 days as Pope--the shortest reign 1822: Jean Francois Champollion announces deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphics using the Rosetta Stone 1825: Locomotion No. 1 is the first steam locomotive to carry passengers on a public rail line 1905: Einstein's paper "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" introduces the formula E=MC squared. 1908: First Model T leaves the plant 1912: W.C. Handy publishes "Memphis Blues" considered the first blues song 1923: Lou Gehrig hits his first major league home run Born: Meat Loaf, Mike Schmidt, Gwyneth Paltrow Died: Edgar Degas, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Clara Bow, Jimmy Doolittle, George Bland, Hugh Hefner Thought: From Lausanne, Switzerland Still working my way through the underlined portions of Hebrews 13 today.  13:9--don't be carried away by strange and varied teaching. How do we avoid this? We read the B...

 1580: Francis Drake on the Golden Hine completes circumnavigation of the globe 1960: Fidel Castro delivers a 4.5 hour speech to the UN 1969: The Beatles last album, "Abbey Road", released Born: George Gershwin, Olivia Newton-John, Linda Hamilton, Serena Williams Died: Daniel Boone, Levi Strauss, Bela Bartok, Byron Nelson, Paul Newman Thought: From Lausanne, Switzerland Continuing the instruction from Hebrews 13 this morning. Let me ask--yesterday did you pursue peace, show hospitality, love the brethren, have an attitude of gratitude? Today, Hebrews gives us more instructions for life. 13:3--Remember the prisoners as if in prison with them. What a picture! Two thoughts come to my mind. First this is another reference back to Matthew 25. Second, what kind of prison are we talking about? People are held prisoner by sin, addiction, habits. People are held captive by other people, false causes and religion. I think the message here is that in Christ we are free. The question is ...

 1237: Treaty of York establishes line between England and Scotland 1513: Vasco Balboa is first European to see the Pacific Ocean after crossing the Isthmus of Panama 1789: Congress proposes the Bill of Rights 1873: Wild Bill Hickok said to have wed Calamity Jane--disputed 1926: Henry Ford adopts 5 day, 8 hour work week for his employees 1939: Andorra signs peace treaty with Germany because Versailles Peace Treaty left Andorra out 1981: Sandra Day O'Connor becomes first female Supreme Court Justice Born: Fletcher Christian, Dmitri Shoshtakovich, Ethel Rosenberg, Barbara Walters, Christopher Reeve, Will Smith Died: Mary Astor, Andy Williams, Arnold Palmer Thought: From Lucerne Switzerland In Hebrews chapters 12 and 13, we are given a series of instructions. We have been told about the faith of others in chapter 11 and encouraged to run the race with endurance as chapter 12 begins. For the next couple of days, I am considering the instructions that follow--how should you live and run...

 1889: Nintendo founded 1938: Time capsule buried at the World's Fair in NYC--to be opened in 6939 1962: "The Jetsons" premiers 2002: First public version of Firefox web browser released Born: Augustus Caesar, Kublai Khan, Typhoid Mary, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen Died: Sigmund Freud, Pablo Neruda, Bob Fosse, Gale Sayers, Louise Fletcher Thought: From Zurich Finishing the week with Hebrews 12:11. Following my back surgery in March, I have not walked as much due to pain. Before we started our trip, I received an injection to help with the nerve inflammation. So I have walked a lot in Austria and now find myself in Switzerland. I feel a little like the verse I am reading today---while I have been walking, it has been sorrowful, but now I am beginning to feel the peaceful fruit of the walking. I feel better and not sore. Like the workout at the gym or the rehab with the therapist--hurts while doing, feels better later.  Yesterday we were told to run with endurance. Endura...

  1692: Last hangings for witchcraft in Salem 1735: Robert Walpole is first Prime Minister to reside at 10 Downing Street 1862: Lincoln issues preliminary Emancipation Proclamation threatening to free the slaves if the Confederacy does not rejoin the Union by January 1, 1863 1869: "Das Rheingold" by Richard Wagner premiers in Munich--first of the Ring cycle 1920: Grand Jury convenes to consider charges that White Sox players conspired to fix the 1919 World Series 1994: "Friends" debuts Born: Anne of Cleaves, Michael Faraday, Tommy Lasorda, Andrea Bocelli Died: Francisco Coronado, Nathan Hale, Irving Berlin, George C Scott, Yogi Berra Thought: From Zurich, Switzerland The next underlined passage in my Bible is Hebrews 12:1-2. Having read about the examples of faith in the Old Testament, the writer instructs us how we should live in faith: Lay aside every encumbrance. Have you ever made a list of the reasons why you can't answer God's call. I know you didn...

 622: Muhammed arrives in Medina 1519: Magellan begins the first voyage to circumnavigate the globe 1973: Billy Jean King beats Bobby Riggs 1984: "The Cosby Show" premiers 1990: East and West Germany ratify reunification Born: Upton Sinclair, Red Auerbach, Sophia Loren Died: Jacob Grimm, Fiorello LaGuardia, Jean Sibelius, Jim Croce Thought: From Innsbruck Austria Reading Hebrews 11:7 today--the faith of Noah. We all know the story. Man rebelled against God to such an extent that God was sorry He had made man [Genesis 6:7]. BUT Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Have you ever considered the importance of that BUT. Without that BUT, mankind would have been totally destroyed--no Larry. This reminds me of the importance of one life dedicated to the Lord. Sometimes we may think our lives are insignificant, our accomplishments meaningless. BUT if we find favor with God, our lives have meaning and purpose and impact that we may never know about or realize--but God uses our li...

1893: New Zealand is the first country to allow all women to vote 1960: "The Twist" by Chubby Checker is #1 1970: "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" premiers 1985: Mexico City earthquake kills 10,000 and leaves 250,000 homeless 1991: Otzi the Iceman discovered in the Alps--mummy from 3300 BC Born: William Golding, Jeremy Irons, Twiggy Died: James Garfield [months after being shot], Orville Redenbacher,  Thought: Froms Innsbruck Austria Reading Hebrews 11:5-6 today. Enoch was the father of Methuselah. The Bible has little to say about him--he lived before the flood; he lived 365 years; he walked with God; then He was not because God took him. [Genesis 5:21-24].  Hebrews tells us he did not see death because he was pleasing to God. Think about that for a moment. How would you like it if all that could be said when you leave this world is what was said of Enoch--Larry walked with God and was pleasing to Him. Larry did not die but lives. That is our future in Christ--not becau...

1793: Washington lays the cornerstone for the Capitol--we have a better cornerstone. See my comments below. 1809: Royal Opera House in London opens  1947: Central Intelligence Agency officially comes into existence--Truman established in June Born: Samuel Johnson, Greta Garbo, James Gandolfini, Lance Armstrong, Ronaldo Died: Domitian, Dag Hammarskjold, Jimi Hendrix, Ken Norton [his son played for me at the 49ers], Ruth Bader Ginsburg Thought: Coming from Salzburg Austria. Very interesting city and not just because of The Sound of Music. There is a solid rock cliff overlooking the town with a fortress on top. The cliff was made when they took the rock to build the city. Makes me think about building on the rock, but also building with the rock. For us we build on the Rock and the Rock is building us into His temple. Just a thought. Reading in Hebrews 11 this morning. And as I look around the scenery in Salzburg, I think about Hebrews 11:3. By faith I understand that the worlds were ...

  Coming to you from Salzburg Austria. Traveled today, so a little late posting 1620: The Mayflower departs Plymouth England with 102 Pilgrims 1848: Slavery abolished in all French territories 1869: First recorded hole in one by Tom Morris at Prestwick's #8 1908: General Motors founded by William Durant  1966: Metropolitan Opera House opens at Lincoln Center Born: J.C. Penney, BB King,  Died: James II, Daniel Fahrenheit, Maria Callas, Mary Travers, Edward Albee Thought: I hesitate to end the week with the next underlined scripture in my Bible--Hebrews 10:29. But as I read it again this morning, it speaks to me of the urgency I should have in reaching others with the gospel of Christ and the importance of living a life worthy of the gospel. We have just talked about the privilege we have to enter the throne room of God, covered by the blood of Christ. We have been encouraged to enter with confidence, hold fast our confession of faith, and encourage other believers. Now I a...

  Coming to you from Vienna, Austria 1835: HMS Beagle and Charles Darwin reach the Galapagos Islands 1916: First use of tanks in warfare--Battle of Somme 1928: Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin 1949: "The Lone Ranger" premiers on ABC 1997: Google.com is registered as a domain name Born: Marco Polo, William Howard Taft, Agatha Christie, Dan Marino Died: Thomas Wolfe, Johnny Ramone,  Thought: Reading Hebrews 10:19-25 today. For several chapters the writer has described Jesus as our High Priest.  In these verses, he summarizes what that means and encourages us to action. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies in those days; however, at the crucifixion the veil separating the temple from the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom. Covered and redeemed by His blood, we are invited to enter the holy place with direct access to the Father's throne. [10:19] Notice it says we enter with confidence--assured that the blood of Christ qualifies us to enter, cloth...

  Coming to you from Vienna, Austria. 1741: Handel completes the music for "Messiah" after 23 days 1752: Britain and the Colonies adopt the Gregorian calendar 1814: Francis Scott Key pens "Defence of Fort McHenry" 1939: First practical helicopter flown--Sikorsky VS-300 1956: IBM introduces the RAMAC 305--weighs over a ton. First commercial computer with magnetic disk storage 1960: OPEC formed by Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela 1985: "The Golden Girls" debuts 1987: Cal Ripken's record 908 games ends 2021: U.S. Covid death toll reaches 663,000 Born: Margaret Sanger, Sam Neill,  Died: Aaron Burr, William McKinley, Isadora Duncan, Grace Kelly, Janet Gaynor Thought: Reading Hebrews 7 today--Jesus our High Priest. For the Jews, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to meet with God, offer sacrifices, intercede for the people. He served a brief term. His position was obtained from his ancestors, traced by genealogy. He offered sacrifices for ...

  Coming to you from Vienna Austria 335: Church of the Holy Sepulcher consecrated 1224: Francis of Assisi afflicted with stigmata after praying 1501: Michelangelo begins work on Statue of David 1845: Michael Faraday discovers the Faraday Effect--influence of magnetic field on polarized light 1847: U.S. captures Mexico City in American-Mexican War 1965: The Beatles release "Yesterday" 1969: "Scooby Doo" debuts.  Born: Daniel Defoe, John Pershing, Claudette Colbert, Roald Dahl Died: Titus [who sacked Jerusalem in 70 AD], Ambrose Burnside, Tupac Shakur, George Wallace Thought: Reading Hebrews 5:11-14 today. This passage hits home to me.  Have I become dull of hearing? Has familiarity with God's word made my senses dull, my hearing impaired. Has sound preaching become background noise? Does my mind wander when I should be listening? Do I hear the words, but never accept them into my heart and mind? What does it take to stir my soul, move me to action, cause me to ch...

  Coming to you from Vienna, Austria 1910: First known female policeman appointed--Alice Wells by the LAPD 1933: Leo Szilard conceives the idea of a nuclear chain reaction while waiting for a red light 1958: Supreme Court orders Central High School in Little Rock to integrate. 1959: Soviet's launch Luna 2--first spacecraft to impact on the moon. 1981: "The Smurfs" first broadcasted in North America Born: Henry Hudson, Jesse Owens,  Died: Peter Roget, Anthony Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jack Kramer, Ray Dolby,  Thought: Look with me at Hebrews 4:2 this morning. Here is a reminder to me that knowing about Jesus, studying the Bible, listening carefully to sermons and taking copious notes will not be profitable if not accompanied by faith. All of us have had the gospel preached to us. All of us have studied the Word, perhaps memorized passages. All of us may regularly attend church, participate in a Bible study or engage in good works. But if this is not united with faith. it is no...

  Coming to you from Vienna, Austria. 1297: William Wallace defeats the English at Stirling Bridge 1773: Ben Franklin writes, "There never was a good war or a bad peace." 1914: W.C. Handy publishes "St. Louis Blues." 2001: Two planes hit the World Trade Center Towers; another hits the Pentagon; and flight 93 crashes in Pennsylvania Born: O. Henry, D.H. Lawrence, Ferdinand Marcos, Tom Landry, Harry Connick Jr. Died: Nikita Khrushchev, Jessica Tandy, Johnny Unitas Thought: Reading Hebrews 3:12-13 today. The writer gives us two instructions for today in this passage about the need for obedience.  Be careful not to have an evil, unbelieving heart. Or in the positive--pray for more faith. This speaks to me about the connection between evil and disbelief. When I slip into evil, it is an indication that I must not believe what God has said or what God has promised. When I look other places for joy and peace, I must be disbelieving that joy and peace are only found in Him. ...

  1543: Mary Queen of Scots crowned at age 9 months. 1776: Congress officially names our country the United States of America 1904: New York baseball team first called the Yankees--not official until 1913 1942: First bombing on U.S. soil--Nobuo Fujita bombs a forest in Oregon after taking off from a submarine in a float plane 1956: Elvis appears on the Ed Sullivan Show for the first time Born: William Bligh, Leo Tolstoy, Colonel Sanders, Otis Redding, Hugh Grant, Adam Sandler, Bob Stoops Died: William the Conqueror, Mao Zedong, Burgess Meredith, Edward Teller [Father of the hydrogen bomb] JAN AND I LEAVE THIS MORNING FOR A TRIP TO AUSTRIA AND SWITZERLAND. THE BLOG MAY BE LATE  OR ABSENT SOME DURING THE TRIP. WE WILL BE BACK OCTOBER 1. Thought: Looking at two passages in Hebrews today--2:17-18 and 4:15-16. These also make me think of 2 Corinthians 5:21. Think about these truths today: Jesus had to be made like us--wholly man---so that He could become the merciful and faithful h...

 1504: Michelangelo's "David" unveiled in Florence 1565: First permanent European settlement in the U.S. founded at St. Augustine 1900: Hurricane kills 6,000 at Galveston TX. Read "Isaac's Storm" for a great account 1930: Richard Drew invents Scotch tape 1941: Siege of Leningrad begins and lasts 28 months 1952: Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea" published 1960: Release of "Psycho" 1966: "Star Trek" premiers on NBC 1974: Gerald Ford pardons Nixon 1986: "Oprah Winfrey Show" first broadcast nationally 2022: Queen Elizabeth II dies after ruling 70 years Born: Richard the Lionheart, Charles Guiteau [shot President Garfield], Peter Sellers, Patsy Cline, Pink, Jimmie Rogers, Sid Caesar, Bernie Sanders Died: Richard Strauss, Ann Lee [founded the Shakers], Huey Long, Zero Mostel, Peter Claver [estimated to have baptized 300,000 slaves after they arrived in Cartagena from Africa] Thought: I love how the Book of Hebrews begins...

  70: Roman army under Titus occupies and plunders Jerusalem 1813: First use of "Uncle Sam" 1876: Great Northfield Minnesota Raid by Frank James and the Younger brothers 1888: Edith McLean is the first infant placed in an incubator 1916: Workmen's Compensation Act passed by Congress 1921: First Miss America Pageant 1923: Interpol is founded 1936: Hoover Dam begins operation 1940: First of 57 consecutive nights of bombing in London 1986: Desmond Tutu becomes Archbishop of Cape Town Born: Elizabeth I, Grandma Moses, Elia Kazan, Peter Lawford, Buddy Holly,  Died: Don Haskins [coach of Texas El Paso basketball team that won national championship] Thought: Reading Titus 3:1-7 today, most of which is underlined in my Bible. Paul gives the before Christ and after Christ picture of our lives and reminds us of how the after Christ person needs to live.  Before Christ [3:3]. We fooled ourselves into believing we were OK, good enough, better than most. But we were disobedient to His...

 1666: Great Fire of London extinguished 1901: President McKinley shot  1913: First airplane to do a loop the loop 1914: First Battle of the Marne begins 1916: First true supermarket opens in Memphis--Piggly Wiggly Born: Marquis de Lafayette, Jane Curtin Died: Margaret Sanger, Luciano Pavarotti, Burt Reynolds,  Thought: Thinking back on the calling of an older man from yesterday, I keep asking "how do you do that?" Fortunately, Paul answers the "how" for all those listed in the first 10 verses of Titus 2 in 2:11-14.  I cannot be the older man described in 2:2 in my own strength, my own wisdom, my own knowledge. But here Paul reminds us that the good news is that Christ has revealed Himself to us, bringing salvation to all [2:11]. Look at what Paul says about Jesus: Jesus gave us the instructions for avoiding and denying ungodliness and worldly desires. He exampled dying to self and allowing the Spirit of God to reign in His life. He taught us to flee evil, to speak ...

  1666: Great Fire of London--13,200 houses destroyed 1889: First modern bra patented 1972: 11 Israeli athletes taken hostage and later killed by Black September during Munich Olympics 2017: Hurricane Irma becomes most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic--185 mph 2019: Woman in India gives birth to twins at age 74.  Born: Louis XIV, Jesse James, Raquel Welch, Freddie Mercury, Bob Newhart, Michael Keaton Died: Suleiman the Magnificent, Crazy Horse, Mother Teresa Thought: In Titus chapter 2, Paul describes the appropriate conduct for a series of people--older men, older women, young men, young women, slaves. I happen to fit into one of those categories, so my attention today is on older men. Some of you fit other categories and perhaps should look at what Paul says to those people. The word for "old men" in the Greek was applied to men as young as 50, so most of the men reading this are like me--older men. Older men are to be: Temperate--sober, free of intoxicants....

  1781: Los Angeles founded 1862: General Lee begins the Maryland campaign 1888: George Eastman patents first roll-film camera and registers the name "Kodak" Born: Paul Harvey, Ray Floyd, Tom Watson, Beyonce Died: Steve Irwin, Joan Rivers Thought: Hope you enjoy your Labor Day! Looking at Titus 1:16 this morning. Paul is writing to Titus, a fellow servant who Paul has left in Crete. The first part of this chapter describes qualifications for elders/overseers. One of the qualifications is the gift of teaching and defending the faith [1:9]. Then Paul counsels regarding "rebellious men" teaching things that should not be taught. How do we tell the difference between those that are exhorting the truth and those who are teaching amiss? Paul says that the latter profess to know God, but their deeds deny Him.  Think about that one verse this morning with me. Yesterday, did I profess to know God as I sang at church, then today my deeds [thoughts, actions, speech] deny Chris...

  31 BC: Battle of Actium effectively ends the Roman Republic 1192: Third Crusade ends with treaty between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin 1666: Great Fire of London destroys about 80% of the city 1752: Britain and America shift to Gregorian calendar and 11 days are skipped between today and September 14 1864: Sherman burns Atlanta 1898: Machine gun first used in battle 1901: Teddy Roosevelt says, "speak softly and carry a big stick" 1935: Hurricane hits Florida killing 423 1940: Great Smokey Mountains National Park dedicated 1944: Anne Frank sent to Auschwitz 1963: George Wallace prevents integration of Tuskegee High School 1969: First ATM installed Born: Adolph Rupp, Terry Bradshaw, Jimmy Connors, Keanu Reeves Died: Alvin York, Ho Chi Minh, JRR Tolkien, Bob Denver, Christiaan Barnard, Pheidippides [made the run from Marathon to Athens to give the news of victory--the "gospel"] We get the word "gospel" or  "good news" from the Marathon event. ...

1803: Massachusetts Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge formed--first tract society in North America 1859: First observation of a solar flare 1878: First female telephone operator begins work 1914: Last passenger pigeon dies at the Cincinnati Zoo 1939: Hitler orders extermination of mentally ill 1941: Jews in Germany required to wear yellow star of David 1945: VJ Day [September 2 in Japan] 1954: "Rear Window" released 1957: Billy Graham NY Crusade ends after 16 weeks and 2 million people 1964: Willie Totten throws for 536 yards for Mississippi Valley State, 294 of which are to Jerry Rice,  2006: Roger Goddell becomes NFL Commissioner Born: Johann Pachelbel, Barry Gibb, Gloria Estefan, Conway Twitty, Dr. Phil Died: Albert Speer, William Clark, Louis XIV, Jacques Cartier, Lewis Jones ["Power in the Blood"] Thought: In 2 Timothy 4:5 we read that Paul urged Timothy to fulfill, complete his ministry. Verse 6-8 are familiar. Paul tells Timothy that he has finished h...