Thought for November 28, 2024

•  1660: A group of "Thinkers" gather to hear a lecture by Christopher Wren. They agree to meet weekly and a year later are recognized as the "Royal Society”, the first scientific society. Three of the members are devout Christians: Christopher Wren, Thomas Willis and Robert Boyle. Wren was an astronomer, anatomist, meteorologist, and surveyor. He designed and built St. Paul's Cathedral. Willis was a pioneer in the anatomy of the brain discovering the "Circle of Willis," a circle of arteries at the base of the brain. Boyle is called the first modern chemist and is known for "Boyle's Law" which expresses the inverse relationship between pressure and volume in gases. He believed the study of nature provided powerful evidence of the existence of God. He funded the translation of the Bible into several languages including Irish. His will left money for a series of lectures to defend Christianity against "notorious infidels, namely atheists, deists, pagans, Jews and Muslims." 
• 1775: Navy established by the Continental Congress
• 1895: First car race in America--Chicago to Evanston--55 miles. winner averaged 7 mph.
• 1948: Hopalong Cassidy premiers on TV
• Born: John  Bunyan, William Blake, Berry Gordy [Motown], Ed Harris, Jon Stewart
• Died: Friedrich von Steuben [trained the Continental Army at Valley Forge], Washington Irving, Jeremiah Rankin, James Naismith, Enrico Fermi, Rosalind Russell, Garry Moore, Leslie Nielsen [wrote hymn "God Be With You." 

Thought:

Happy Thanksgiving! Praying that on this day in particular you will take time to give thanks to God. We know that President Lincoln proclaimed a national holiday for Thanksgiving on October 3, 1863, at the urging of Sarah Joseph Hale, editor of "Godey's Lady's Book," a magazine. Lincoln set the date as November 26, 1863 during the Great War. What you may not recall is that on October 3, 1789, President George Washington set aside November 26 as a national day of prayer and thanksgiving. 

Congress completed its work on the Bill of Rights on September 25, 1789. Elias Boudinot presented a resolution asking Washington to issue a public proclamation of public prayer and thanksgiving. The debate was heated. Roger Sherman of Connecticut argued that the day of thanksgiving was warranted based upon a number of days of thanksgiving in the Bible, specifically referencing the celebration upon the completion of Solomon's Temple. The resolution passed and Washington issued a proclamation.

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 by their joint Committee 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." Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be"

As we give thanks today, let us pray for Presidents and leaders who will recognize and praise Almighty God, the Author of every good and perfect gift, and His Son, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Blessings

Larry