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...